Cameron faces Tory EU rebellion

31 October 2012 Last updated at 01:28 ET

David Cameron is facing a rebellion in the House of Commons over his policy on the European Union's long-term budget.

The prime minister has told his European counterparts the budget should be frozen in real terms.

But dozens of Tory MPs have signed an amendment backing a cut, and Labour also say it should be reduced.

MPs are due to debate the EU's 2014-2020 budget proposals in what is being seen as a test of Mr Cameron's authority on Europe.

Downing Street said the final budget deal had to be "acceptable" to the UK.

Negotiations over the EU's next long-term budget, called the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), are taking shape amid calls from the UK and other nations for restraint at a time when many countries are pushing through unpopular domestic austerity measures.

'Inappropriate'

The European Commission has proposed a £826bn (1.025 trillion euros) budget ceiling for the period up to 2020, equivalent to 1.03% of EU gross national income (GNI). That is a 5% rise compared with the 2007-2013 budget.

Agreement must be reached by all member states and the European Parliament on a new deal.

Mr Cameron has said any above-inflation increase in the budget would be inappropriate at a time when member nations are having to make tough spending decisions at home.

He has said he would be prepared to veto any unacceptable proposal - budget decisions require the agreement of all 27 member states.

But some Conservative MPs want the UK to go further and demand a reduction in real-terms spending in future negotiations, starting at next month's EU council meeting.

The Tory rebels said they believed 40 to 60 of their colleagues would back the amendment.

MPs who have already signed the rebel amendment include Zac Goldsmith, Bill Cash, John Redwood and Bernard Jenkin.

But, writing for the Conservativehome website, fellow Conservative MP Andrea Leadsom said the amendment was "wrong for Britain" as it did not focus on where money would actually be spent on a year-by-year basis.

"It won't produce the reform that British voters are looking for, and it could ironically result in higher cost to Britain's taxpayers, while damaging our scope for negotiations on the direction of expenditure," she said.

Budget 'increases'

Labour have indicated they could back Conservative rebels on Wednesday and vote for a budget cut, increasing the pressure on the government's Commons majority.

In 2011, the UK's net contribution to the EU budget was £9.2bn after its £2.86bn rebate.

Spending on agriculture and support for Europe's poorer regions - known as cohesion funds - account for about 80% of total proposed EU spending between 2014 and 2020.

MEPs want spending levels for those major budget items to be at least maintained at the 2007-2013 level but also want "significant increases" in budgets for competitiveness, small business, sustainable infrastructure and research and innovation.

EU leaders will hold a budget summit on 22 and 23 November. If no agreement is reached by the end of next year, the 2013 budget will be rolled into 2014 with a 2% rise to account for inflation.

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Government 'may curb wind farms'

31 October 2012 Last updated at 01:42 ET

The government looks set to stop new wind farms after Energy Minister John Hayes was quoted by two newspapers stating that the UK had enough of them.

The Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph both carry interviews in which he says "enough is enough" and that the country is "peppered" by the farms.

They say he has now ordered a new analysis of the case for wind farms and their effect on local communities.

The government said it was committed to renewables as one part of its strategy.

Mr Hayes said he did not like onshore wind turbines before he was appointed to the role last month, describing turbines as a "terrible intrusion".

He is now reported as saying there are sufficient wind turbines already in the planning system to meet the government's aims and declares he cannot "build a new Jerusalem" but can "protect our green and pleasant land".

The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is already running a consultation on wind farms, but Mr Hayes suggested there will be reviews commissioned into the noise that turbines create and their relationship with the landscape.

Community 'desires'

He said: "We can no longer have wind turbines imposed on communities. I can't single-handedly build a new Jerusalem but I can protect our green and pleasant land.

"We have issued a call for evidence on wind. That is about cost but also about community buy-in. We need to understand communities' genuine desires. We will form our policy in the future on the basis of that, not on a bourgeois Left article of faith based on some academic perspective.

"If you look at what has been built, what has consent and what is in the planning system, much of it will not get through and will be rejected. Even if a minority of what's in the system is built we are going to reach our 2020 target."

Some 4,000 turbines are due to be built across the country in future.

Mr Hayes, Conservative MP for South Holland and The Deepings, gave a speech to the Renewables UK event on renewable energy on Tuesday night, which a DECC spokeswoman said was "well received by the renewables industry".

She said that the views quoted by the Mail and Telegraph were not expressed in that speech.

She added: "Government policy for renewables, as stated in the Renewables Roadmap, sets out scenarios for renewable deployment, but does not set targets or caps for the deployment of individual technologies, including on onshore wind.

"Government is committed to supporting a balanced energy mix of renewables, new nuclear and gas in order to meet the UK's energy needs".

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Savile 'took girls to hospital'

31 October 2012 Last updated at 03:48 ET

Jimmy Savile was regularly handed a key to a Leeds hospital building when he arrived with teenage girls, an ex-porter there has told the BBC.

Terry Pratt said Savile would arrive at Leeds General Infirmary in the early hours, take the girls to the nurses' accommodation and leave before dawn.

Leeds General Infirmary said there were no records of complaints against Savile during the time he was working there.

Police are probing claims the late TV star abused about 300 young people.

The hospital also said it "continues to be shocked by each new allegation" and was helping police with their investigation.

Savile, a TV presenter and DJ who rose to fame in the 60s, was well known at Leeds General Infirmary over many years as a volunteer and fundraiser.

Late-night visits

But Mr Pratt said he became suspicious when the TV star began arriving in the middle of the night in the late 1980s with teenage girls who seemed "star-struck" and were "not very streetwise".

Mr Pratt said Savile would pay these late-night visits several times a month, with different girls, asking for the key to the accommodation block. He would arrive at about 01:00 or 02:00, spend a few hours there and drop the key back about 05:00, Mr Pratt added.

"He would go up and see the lad on the desk [and he would say] 'Here's the key Jim, make sure I get it back.' He'd take the key and the two of them would look through the doorway... he would walk out and the two women would follow him towards the nurses' home," he told the BBC.

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Terry Pratt said many of the teenage girls with Savile seemed "star-struck"

Earlier this month former Broadmoor Hospital patient Steven George, 60, claimed that Savile had keys to the hospital and was given his own room during the 1970s.

Mr George, who was known as Alison Pink while at the hospital and has since had a sex change, said Savile was treated like a member of staff and "virtually had the run of the place".

He alleged that he was abused by the entertainer but said he did not tell anyone because he thought no-one would believe him.

Alan Franey, who was on a taskforce which oversaw Broadmoor hospital in 1988, along with the TV presenter, said Savile would have been able to "come and go at the hospital as he pleased".

The Department of Health is investigating and has appointed a former barrister to oversee its probes at Broadmoor, along with Stoke Mandeville Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary.

The investigation comes amid growing allegations that Savile sexually abused children at all three of the hospitals which he had raised funds for.

'Heads will roll'

Earlier this week it emerged that Savile was banned from any involvement with the BBC's Children in Need charity.

Sir Roger Jones, a former chairman of the charity and governor for BBC Wales, said he had heard rumours from London staff, and the charity decided not to allow Savile "anywhere near" it.

The Metropolitan Police are following 400 lines of inquiry as part of the investigation into claims he abused 300 children and young people over a period of six decades.

Savile, who presented Top of the Pops and Jim'll Fix It and was a former Radio 1 DJ, died last October aged 84.

A BBC inquiry into the culture and practices at the corporation in the era of alleged sexual abuse by Savile began on Monday.

The corporation is also looking at the decision-making process that saw a Newsnight investigation into Savile's activities shelved.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg told ITV's The Agenda that "heads will need to roll" at the BBC if it is discovered that abuse was ignored.

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Heseltine issues growth challenge

31 October 2012 Last updated at 03:58 ET

Lord Heseltine, the former Conservative party deputy prime minister, has challenged the government to take bolder action to stimulate the economy.

In a new report, commissioned by Downing Street, he says that people think the UK "does not have a strategy for growth and wealth creation".

Lord Heseltine recommends distributing growth funds for industry more locally, rather than through central government.

Labour said his message was "a damning indictment" of the government.

His review makes 89 recommendations to help industry. One of its key aims is to move £49bn from central government to the regions to help local leaders and businesses.

Chancellor George Osborne said he would "study it [the report] very carefully".

Lord Heseltine, who was also head of the Department of Trade and Industry in the 1980s, says Local Enterprise Partnerships' responsibilities should include wealth creation as well as focus on social provision.

He calls the current climate "the worst economic crisis of modern times" and argues that local business and political leaders are best placed to invest the money.

The main points of the report, called No Stone Unturned: In pursuit of growth, include:

• a major devolution of funding
• making a smaller and more skilled government machine
• enhancing the standing of Local Economic Partnerships (LEPs) to bring together private and public sectors
• more government leadership for major infrastructure projects
• a role for employers in education

'Pulsing'

Continue reading the main story

Analysis

The government that commissioned this report is not spared Lord Heseltine's criticism. The coalition's growth plans are "piecemeal" and create complexity, he says. It needs to be more strategic and confident.

The recurrent message he heard is that the UK doesn't have a strategy for growth and wealth creation.

But at the heart of this report is a call to unwind a century of centralisation by shifting money and the responsibility for spending it away from Whitehall to England's cites and regions.

Lord Heseltine has long believed government should intervene to support business and help regenerate urban areas. He wants to see a big chunk of central government funding for business and job support to be transferred to local enterprise partnerships.

The report has been welcomed by the Treasury - which said many of the recommendations are an evolution of the government's strategy. Labour said it echoed their call for an "active" government approach to growth.

When in office Lord Heseltine was well known for promoting intervention to back business and the regeneration of urban areas.

His private business interests included a property business and publishing the advertising industry bible Campaign Magazine.

The report is presented in a highly individual style, fronted by a cartoon of Lord Heseltine shining a torch under a rock, with the caption "In search of growth".

He calls it "one man's vision", and says "there is opportunity on a grand scale".

He said there was excellence in industry, commerce and academia, which should be extended and that cities were "pulsing with energy" that should be unleashed.

However, he backed the government's economic strategy, and said it was taking the right path to recovery.

'Challenge received wisdom'

Mr Osborne said the report provided food for thought.

"I wanted Lord Heseltine to do what he does best: challenge received wisdom and give us ideas on how to bring government and industry together. He has done exactly that," he said.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said he would also be considering the report and would respond in the coming months.

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

He will have his work cut out in convincing ministers of this new approach"

End Quote Brendan Barber TUC

Shadow business secretary, Chuka Umunna, said aspects of Lord Heseltine's report chimed with Labour's own industrial policy.

"Labour has led calls for an active government approach to support business and underpin regional growth - it is good to see Lord Heseltine echoing this in his report. We will examine his proposals and consider which ones we can take forward," he said.

"We hope that ministers will take Lord Heseltine's proposals seriously."

Business backing

The Institute of Directors (IoD) business group reacted positively to the broad thrust of the report's proposals.

"We welcome the idea of encouraging more devolution to the local level, and ensuring business has the opportunity to make heard its priorities on local issues," IoD director general Simon Walker said.

"Business leaders and the various business organisations have long experience of co-operating to encourage a positive business environment in the UK, and we are committed to continuing that work."

Meanwhile the TUC also backed the report but warned that it needs to be embraced across government in order to make a difference.

"The TUC shares Lord Heseltine's vision of collaboration between the public and private sectors, with unions and employers working together to promote growth," said general secretary Brendan Barber.

"But he will have his work cut out in convincing ministers of this new approach, who are going to have to change their attitude towards civil servants, public bodies and unions if they want this strategy to succeed."

Lord Heseltine will formally launch his report later on Wednesday at an event in Birmingham.

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Barclays bank in quarterly loss

31 October 2012 Last updated at 04:08 ET

UK bank Barclays has reported a pre-tax statutory loss of £47m for the three months to September, against a £2.4bn profit for the quarter last year.

The loss comes after charges to cover the payment protection insurance (PPI) mis-selling scandal.

Barclays' adjusted profits, not including additional charges, were £1.7bn, up from £1.3bn for the quarter last year.

It takes profits for the nine months to 30 September to £5.9bn, up 18%.

The bank said it needed to set aside a further £700m for PPI claims, on top of £1bn in 2011 and £300m in the first quarter of this year that it anticipated.

Chief executive Antony Jenkins said the results show "good momentum in our businesses despite the difficulties we faced through this period".

Mr Jenkins took over at a difficult time for the banking group, which has seen its reputation severely dented. In June, Barclays was fined £290m by UK and US regulators for attempting to manipulate Libor, an interbank lending rate which affects mortgages and loans.

The scandal saw previous boss Bob Diamond and chairman Marcus Agius depart the bank.

The entire financial services industry has come under scrutiny since the financial crisis in 2008.

The industry's reputation has been battered further by the mis-selling of PPI, and the mis-selling of specialist insurance - called interest rate swaps - to small businesses.

In the third quarter, Barclays said its staff costs fell 9% to almost £2bn, including an increase in deferred charges for bonuses in previous years to £942m.

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Royal Mail to create 1,000 jobs

29 October 2012 Last updated at 20:14 ET

Royal Mail is to create 1,000 jobs in the UK over the next four years as part of a £75m investment programme for its parcels business.

A new parcel processing centre will open in Chorley in autumn 2013.

Two new depots will open in Cornwall and Hampshire while nine existing depots will be expanded or moved to larger sites over the next four years.

But the Communication Workers Union said Royal Mail's workforce would not increase, due to job losses elsewhere.

Royal Mail has cut about 65,000 jobs since 2002 as it attempts to modernise.

'Profitable growth'

The latest move is part of Royal Mail's strategy to expand its parcels business in the UK and overseas.

In the last financial year, it accounted for 48% of total revenues, excluding the Post Office.

The UK express parcels market is currently worth £5.8bn a year or 1.1 billion items.

"Our strategy is to convert the rise in parcel volumes into profitable growth. That means becoming a much more customer-focused company being run on commercial lines and investing in new, vital technology," said Moya Greene, Royal Mail chief executive.

Employment Minister Mark Hoban said: "It is great news that 1,000 new jobs will be created across the country as a result of this investment. We've now got a record number of people in employment and these jobs will provide welcome opportunities for people who are looking for work."

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: "In truth, this project has already been several months in the making and CWU is involved in talks about how and where these jobs will be created, including the possibility of people transferring from other parts of the group where jobs are being lost.

"These jobs will go some way to easing the impact of jobs lost elsewhere in the company as huge changes are brought in to address the altering profile of mail. Working with the CWU, Royal Mail - unlike many private mail companies - has created good quality, and secure jobs with decent pay, terms and conditions."

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Police election ballot 'shambles'

29 October 2012 Last updated at 22:48 ET

Preparations for next month's police and crime elections in Wales have been called a "shambles" after it emerged an estimated £350,000 worth of ballots papers are likely to be shredded.

Peers approved plans to print bilingual ballots in both Welsh and English on Monday, 48 hours before a deadline for sending out postal ballots in Wales.

Ballots written only in English will now have to be thrown away.

Labour said thousands of pounds had been spent on "creating waste paper".

But ministers said it was not unprecedented for similar legislative orders to be approved shortly before elections and the same had happened in the run-up to the 2010 general election.

Voters will go to the polls across England and Wales on 15 November to elect police and crime commissioners to replace existing appointed police authorities.

Ministers said they were committed to ensuring "full parity" between English and Welsh languages on ballot papers in Wales.

But Labour and Plaid Cymru said it was ridiculous that the matter had come to Parliament for approval so late in the day and that ministers had initially intended to seek their approval in May.

"With the passing of this order, allowing the use of bilingual ballot papers, the English ballot papers already printed will be thrown away - £350,000 spent on creating waste paper," said Labour peer Lord Touhig.

Lib Dem peer Lord Roberts said it was "a shambolic way" to undertake any sort of election. "The ballot papers are supposed to be going out within the next 48 hours," he said. "It is beyond my comprehension."

For the government, Lord Taylor said the cost of the ballot papers would be met from the £75m budget for the elections.

Earlier, at a meeting of the Third Delegated Legislation Committee, policing minister Damian Green said that 2.3 million English language only ballot papers would be "dealt with securely".

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Breast screening harm highlighted

30 October 2012 Last updated at 02:43 ET By James Gallagher Health and science reporter, BBC News

Women invited for breast cancer screening in the UK are to be given more information about the potential harms of being tested.

An independent review was set up to settle a fierce debate about whether the measure did more harm than good.

It showed that for every life saved, three women had treatment for a cancer which would never have been fatal.

The information will be included on leaflets to give women an "informed choice", the government said.

Cancer charities said women should still take up the offer of screening.

Controversy

Screening has been a fixture in diagnosing breast cancer for more than two decades. Women aged between 50 and 70 are invited to have a mammogram every three years. It helps doctors catch cancer early so treatment can be given when it is more likely to save lives.

Continue reading the main story

Screening in numbers

• More than two million women are screened each year in the UK
• Women between 50 and 70 are screened every three years.
• 48,000 women are diagnosed each year.
• One in eight women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives.
• More than 11,000 women die from breast cancer each year

However, the national cancer director Prof Sir Mike Richards said it had become "an area of high controversy".

The debate centres around the concept of "over-diagnosis", that is screening which correctly identifies a tumour, but one which would never have caused harm. It leads to women who would have lived full and healthy lives having treatments - such as surgery, hormone therapy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy - which have considerable side-effects.

There is no way of knowing which tumours will be deadly and which could have been left alone.

The review, published in the Lancet medical journal, showed that screening saved 1,307 lives every year in the UK, but led to 3,971 women having unnecessary treatment. From the point of view of a single patient they have a 1% chance of being over-diagnosed if they go for screening.

The independent review panel was led by Prof Michael Marmot, from University College London. He said screening had "contributed to reducing deaths" but also "resulted in some overdiagnosis".

He said it was "vital" women were told about the potential harms and benefits before going for a mammogram.

Prof Richards said: "My view is that the screening programme should happen, we should invite women to be screened and give women the information to make their own choice."

He said the leaflets on breast cancer screening sent to women would be updated in the "next few months" to "give the facts in a clear, unbiased way".

Current advice does not highlight the scale of the risk.

To screen?

Cancer charities have unanimously argued that women should still choose to be screened.

Continue reading the main story

Analysis: Debate over?

The national cancer director described the findings as the "best data" available on the issue. However, this is unlikely to be the final word on breast cancer screening.

One of the lead voices questioning screening, Prof Peter Gotzsche from the University of Copenhagen, has told the BBC he has "serious reservations" about the findings.

His previous research suggested 10 women were treated unnecessarily for every life saved and questioned whether screening had any overall benefit.

He said "the estimate of the balance [of benefit vs harm] is still too positive" in this study.

He criticised the independent panel for using old data and ignoring more recent studies showing no benefit of screening.

He will be publishing a response in a medical journal soon.

A joint statement by Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Campaign and Breast Cancer Care said: "We encourage all women to attend their screening appointments."

It said the review provided "much-needed clarity" that screening saves lives, but women must be given "clear and balanced information" to highlight the harms.

Cancer Research UK, which commissioned the review alongside the Department of Health, said that "on balance" it thought that women should go ahead with screening.

Its chief executive Dr Harpal Kumar said: "Because we can't yet tell which cancers are harmful and which are not, we cannot predict what will happen in an individual woman's case.

"Research is advancing at pace and we hope that in the future there will be a number of new techniques that we can use alongside the screening programme to make it more sophisticated and reduce the numbers of women having unnecessary treatment."

Richard Winder, the deputy director of the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes, said: "This was a robust review and we appreciate the rigour and efforts of the panel in conducting it.

"We are pleased that the panel concluded the NHS Breast Cancer Screening Programme confers significant benefit and should continue.

"Where they have made recommendations, we will work with all partners to take these forward."

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Storm Sandy cancels flights to US

30 October 2012 Last updated at 03:28 ET

Passengers hoping to fly to east coast destinations of the US from the UK face a second day of disruption and cancellations as a result of the cyclone that has hit the area.

So far, 102 flights have been cancelled by six different airlines, including British Airways, United and Virgin.

Passengers are being offered the opportunity to rebook or get a refund.

Heathrow Airport said passengers should check their flight status before coming to the airport.

Flight disruption

BA has cancelled 11 return flights from Heathrow to the US east coast - departures to New York JFK, Newark, Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia are affected.

Flights to and from Boston are expected to operate as normal, BA said.

The airline has advised customers to check the status of their flights on its website before going to Heathrow.

Virgin Atlantic has cancelled two flights for Tuesday, as well as three arrivals. Passengers have been advised to check the Virgin website for latest updates.

United Airlines has cancelled all 13 transatlantic flights scheduled for Tuesday: five services from Heathrow to New York, three flights from Heathrow to Washington and services to New York from Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester.

A United flight from Manchester to Washington has also been cancelled.

American Airlines has cancelled all seven flights which were due to depart from the UK on Tuesday: five return flights from Heathrow to New York, one from Heathrow to Boston and one from Manchester to New York.

Delta has cancelled three flights from Heathrow to JFK planned for Tuesday, and US Airways cancelled two flights.

Some 73 arrivals from the US to Heathrow have been cancelled. The cancellations currently run until 18.30 GMT.

States of emergency

Sandy lost its hurricane status late on Monday as it neared the coast and collided with winter weather systems at about 20:00 local time on Monday (midnight GMT), but was still generating hurricane-strength winds.

It caused a record surge of seawater in New York City, flooding car and subway tunnels and leaving much of lower Manhattan without power.

It has so far been blamed for 10 deaths in several states, Associated Press said.

An estimated 50 million people could be affected, with up to one million ordered to evacuate homes. Some three million are without electricity.

Public transport has been halted in several eastern cities, and thousands of flights have been grounded.

Nine states of emergency have been called in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and District of Columbia.

President Barack Obama warned Americans to follow emergency instructions if they are in the storm's path.

British national Chris Sell, who has lived in New York for 23 years, told BBC Radio 5 live: "I think the city has done an amazing job of getting us all ready for it. I really think we are all as ready as we can be.

"The flooding is the big thing. It feels a bit like it did after 9/11 but we are a tough breed here."

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Hitachi buys UK nuclear project

30 October 2012 Last updated at 04:29 ET

The UK's nuclear expansion plans have been boosted after Japan's Hitachi signed a £700m deal to start building a new generation of power plants.

Hitachi is to buy Horizon Nuclear Power, which intends to build reactors on existing sites at Wylfa, Anglesey, and Oldbury, in Gloucestershire.

Hitachi is buying Horizon from Germany's E.On and RWE, which are withdrawing from the UK nuclear market.

Prime Minister David Cameron said it was a major step for the UK.

"This is a decades-long, multi-billion pound vote of confidence in the UK, that will contribute vital new infrastructure to power our economy.

"It will support up to 12,000 jobs during construction and thousands more permanent highly skilled roles once the new power plants are operational, as well as stimulating exciting new industrial investments in the UK's nuclear supply chain. I warmly welcome Hitachi as a major new player in the UK energy sector," he said.

UK engineering companies Babcock International and Rolls-Royce have signed preliminary contracts to join the Hitachi deal, which the Japanese company said should be completed by the end of November.

Hitachi intends to build 6 gigawatts of nuclear capacity, with the first plant becoming operational in the first half of the next decade.

Up to 6,000 jobs are expected to be created during construction at each site, thousands more in the supply chain, and a further 1,000 permanent jobs at both locations once operational.

The Horizon venture, which currently employs around 90 people, was set up in 2009 as part of the drive to meet the UK's carbon reduction goals and secure energy demand as old power plants are decommissioned.

'Milestone'

But RWE and E.On put the business up for sale in March after Germany's move to abandon nuclear power in the wake of Japan's Fukushima disaster.

A consortium made up of EDF and British Gas-owner Centrica has maintained its interest but the two companies have still to decide whether to build two reactors at Hinckley Point, Somerset.

Hitachi facilities will use its advanced boiling water technology, which is already in used in four reactors in Japan.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said: "Hitachi bring with them decades of expertise, and are responsible for building some of the most advanced nuclear reactors on time and on budget, so I welcome their commitment to helping build a low- carbon, secure-energy future for the UK."

Unions also welcomed Hitachi's move, with Mike Clancy, general secretary designate of Prospect, saying: "The Horizon venture is an important milestone in securing future low-carbon energy generation capacity within the UK and its importance to local and national economies cannot be overstated.

"While Hitachi's advanced boiling water reactor design has yet to undergo the UK's generic design assessment approval process, it is a proven technology and therefore any construction in the UK will benefit from lessons learned from its construction in Japan."

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Five million 'below Living Wage'

28 October 2012 Last updated at 20:22 ET

One in five workers in the UK is paid less than required for a basic standard of living, a report has claimed.

The proportion is much higher among waiters and bar staff, at up to 90% of workers, the research for accountants KPMG suggested.

It claimed that nearly five million people failed to command the Living Wage - a pay packet that enabled a basic standard of living.

The rate stands at £8.30 an hour in London and £7.20 in the rest of the UK.

This rate is voluntary, unlike the National Minimum Wage - the amount that employers must pay by law, which is set at £6.19 an hour for those aged 21 and over.

"Times are difficult for many people, but of course those on the lowest pay are suffering the most," said Marianne Fallon, head of corporate affairs at KPMG, which has itself signed up to pay the Living Wage.

"Paying a Living Wage makes a huge difference to the individuals and their families and yet does not actually cost an employer much more.

"Tackling in-work poverty is also vital if we are to enable more people to improve their life prospects and increase social mobility in this country."

'Tough choices'

The report suggested that Northern Ireland had the highest proportion of people earning below the Living Wage, at 24% of workers, followed by Wales at 23%.

The lowest levels were in London and the South East of England, both at 16%, it said. In terms of total numbers, London, the North West of England and the South East of England had the most.

When looking at sectors of employers, some 90% of bar staff and 85% of waiters and waitresses failed to get as much as the Living Wage.

Some 780,000 sales and retail assistants were not paid to Living Wage level, the highest total of any group of employees, the report suggested.

Frances O'Grady, the incoming general secretary of the TUC, said: "It is shocking that in this day and age, one in five workers is still earning less than is needed to maintain a decent standard of living.

"The living wage is not a luxury, and means that low-paid workers do not have to make tough choices over whether they can afford the everyday things that most of us take for granted, such as their fuel bill or a winter coat for their children.

"Many more employers could afford to adopt the living wage, and we hope that many more decide to pay it in the coming months. Now more than ever is the time for employers to put an end to poverty pay."

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Child benefit cuts letters sent

29 October 2012 Last updated at 00:10 ET

Millions of parents will receive letters from the Inland Revenue this week about losing child benefit.

Households where at least one person earns more than £50,000 will have the benefit effectively reduced or stopped.

Officials say it means as many as 500,000 parents may have to complete self-assessment tax forms. A flood of calls for advice is expected.

Ministers say the changes, which take effect in January, are needed to ensure the better-off help deficit reduction.

From Monday letters will be sent to people who earn more than £50,000 who live at an address where child benefit is received to explain how their family is likely to be affected.

Child benefit currently stands at £20.30 a week for the first child and £13.40 for each child after that.

Under the new approach, families where one parent earns between £50,000 and £60,000 will have their benefit reduced on a sliding scale.

The change will cost families with three children and at least one parent earning more than £60,000 about £2,450 a year - the equivalent of a £4,000 pay cut.

Continue reading the main story

Child benefit 'households'

• Married couples living together
• Civil partners living together
• A man and a woman who are not married to each other but who live together
• A man living with a man or a woman living with a woman who are living together as if they were civil partners.

And it will produce anomalies, such as in the case of two-earner households where both parents earn £49,000.

They will keep all their benefit, while others who have one parent on £60,000 and the other staying at home will lose all of theirs.

Hundreds of thousands of parents will have to complete a self-assessment tax form.

Accountants say they expect calls from people confused by the change, or looking to avoid losing benefit by legal means, for example, making additional pension contributions.

Continue reading the main story

Child benefit facts

• Child benefit is a tax-free payment that is aimed at helping parents cope with the cost of bringing up children
• One parent can claim £20.30 a week for an eldest or only child and £13.40 a week for each of their other children
• The payments apply to all children aged under 16 and in some cases until they are 20 years old
• The system is administered by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) which pays out to nearly 7.9 million families, with 13.7 million children

Meanwhile, senior Conservatives have released poll results that suggest 82% of the public support plans to cut child benefit for high-earning families, while 13% oppose it.

Populus surveyed 2,066 British adults between 24 and 26 October.

A Treasury spokesman, responding to the poll, said: "In a period when the government is having to reduce welfare spending, it is very difficult to justify continuing to pay for the child benefit of the wealthiest 15% of families in society.

"The unprecedented scale of the deficit has meant that the government has had to make tough choices to reduce public spending; but we have always been clear that those with the broadest shoulders should carry the greatest burden."

The spokesman added that 85% of all families with children would be unaffected by the changes and would continue to receive child benefit in full.

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BBC probe into Savile era culture

29 October 2012 Last updated at 03:21 ET

An inquiry is to begin into the culture and practices at the BBC in the era of alleged sexual abuse by Jimmy Savile.

Former appeal court judge Dame Janet Smith will also consider whether the BBC child protection and whistle-blowing policies are fit for purpose.

Police are investigating allegations TV star Savile sexually abused some 300 young people over a 40-year period.

As part of the police inquiry, ex-pop star Gary Glitter has been arrested and bailed on suspicion of sex offences.

Glitter, 68, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was arrested at home and questioned at a London police station on Sunday before being released on bail until mid-December.

The former glam rock star is the first person to be arrested in connection with the Metropolitan Police's Savile abuse investigation.

Scotland Yard has said it is following about 400 lines of inquiry as part of the investigation into claims that Savile, who died last year aged 84, abused hundreds of young girls and some boys.

The BBC also set up inquiries in the wake of the scandal.

Dame Janet previously led the Shipman Inquiry, which examined the activities of serial killer GP Dr Harold Shipman.

She will gather evidence from people who have made allegations about being sexually abused by Savile on BBC premises or while on location for the corporation, and from those who claim they raised concerns either formally or informally about his activities.

She will also look at "the extent to which BBC personnel were or ought to have been aware of unlawful and/or inappropriate conduct by Jimmy Savile on BBC premises or on location for the BBC".

Meanwhile, former Sky News head Nick Pollard is already examining whether there were BBC management failings over a Newsnight investigation into Savile abuse claims that was shelved last year.

Continue reading the main story

Whether they were young teenage girls or old age pensioners, people always wanted to talk to him"

End Quote Roger Foster Jimmy Savile's nephew

Another review will examine sexual harassment policies at the BBC.

'Reflected glory'

Allegations of sexual abuse against Savile have continued to mount since claims were first made public in an ITV documentary at the beginning of October.

Savile's nephew Roger Foster has told the BBC that he did not believe the allegations at first, but as so many have surfaced he is now "convinced that the vast majority of them are true".

He said he could not understand how his uncle, who did so much charity work, "could have such a dark side to him".

In a Radio 5 live interview, Mr Foster explained why he had never had any suspicions about his uncle's private life.

"Whether they were young teenage girls or old-age pensioners, people always wanted to talk to him - so I never had any reason at all to doubt that there was anything other than the fact that people just wanted a little bit of that reflected glory because they were chatting to this famous person."

Mr Foster said he did not believe his uncle had "hoodwinked" his friends and colleagues - he had instead kept his public and his private life separate.

"I don't think he hoodwinked them because hoodwinking suggests that you've gone and done it deliberately and with some kind of ulterior motive in mind.

"I really don't think that's the right word, but his private life he kept to himself."

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Hurricane disrupts UK passengers

29 October 2012 Last updated at 03:49 ET

Thousands of transatlantic passengers are facing disruption with the cancellation of flights between Britain and the US as Hurricane Sandy hits the east coast of the US.

BA and Virgin Atlantic have cancelled all flights to and from New York, Washington and Boston, with Baltimore and Philadelphia flights also cut.

Passengers are being offered the opportunity to rebook or get a refund.

But disruption could last for days if Sandy intensifies.

With winds of 75mph, the hurricane - dubbed "Frankenstorm" - is threatening 50 million people along the densely-populated east coast.

Emergencies have been declared in a number of states from North Carolina to Connecticut.

'Safety is highest priority'

United Airlines has cancelled departures from Manchester and Birmingham to some US cities, and Virgin Atlantic has already cancelled early flights on Tuesday to JFK and Newark Airport in New York - a sign that the storm could cause delays for more than 24 hours.

A spokesman for Virgin Atlantic highlighted the "number one priority" of passenger and crew safety.

He said: "We are continuously liaising with local authorities to assess the situation and minimise the disruption caused to passengers."

He advised passengers to check the Virgin website for latest updates.

A statement from BA said: "We understand that customers may be disappointed, however, their safety is our highest priority.

"We are offering the option to rebook or receive a refund to those customers whose flights are cancelled.

"We have also received reports that public transport links to East Coast US airports may be disrupted, so advise customers to review their flight and local travel plans before leaving for the airport."

Heathrow Airport has asked those due to fly to the US to check their flight status before travelling.

Widespread destruction forecast

The storm - which has killed 60 people in the Caribbean during the past week - could cause destruction over 800 miles from the East Coast to the Great Lakes as it merges with a wintry storm from the western US.

At 02:00 EDT (06:00 GMT), the storm was turning north, its eye swirling about 425 miles (760km) south-east of New York City, according to the National Hurricane Center.

As many as 375,000 people have been ordered to evacuate low-lying areas of the city and authorities have been shutting down the Eastern Seaboard.

Apart from New York, states of emergency have also been declared in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington DC and a coastal county in North Carolina.

And it is forcing presidential candidates to adjust schedules and cancel events, just one week before the US elections.

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Fresh fears for care home victims

29 October 2012 Last updated at 04:11 ET By Alison Holt Social Affairs Correspondent, BBC News

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

The abuse at Winterbourne View was uncovered by secret filming by the BBC

Many patients who were poorly treated at a private hospital which closed down after a BBC Panorama investigation have had new fears raised over their safety.

Last week six support workers were jailed for abusing vulnerable patients at Winterbourne View, near Bristol.

NHS figures show safeguarding alerts have been issued for at least 19 of its 51 former patients since they were moved to other care homes.

The government said "lessons must be learnt from Winterbourne View".

Of the patients that have been issued with safeguarding alerts, at least one has been assaulted and one criminal inquiry is under way.

However, not all of the alerts mean that someone was harmed.

Campaigners told Panorama they feared vulnerable adults were being warehoused in a system that was not offering them the support they need.

Shivering and shaking

Using an undercover reporter in the spring of 2011, Panorama secretly filmed support workers slapping patients, pinning them under chairs and giving them cold punishment showers at Winterbourne View.

Last week at Bristol Crown Court, 11 people were sentenced for the ill-treatment and neglect of patients at the hospital.

Six were jailed, including ringleader Wayne Rogers, 32, who admitted nine counts of ill-treating patients, and was jailed for two years.

Simone Blake, then just 18, faced some of the most disturbing abuse at Winterbourne View, including being drenched in water and left shivering and shaking on the freezing ground outside.

Simone was moved to an NHS hospital - Postern House in Wiltshire - as soon as the abuse allegations were revealed.

Postern House was just forty minutes' drive from Simone's parents, allowing them to visit her several times a week.

In June of this year her parents received a letter from Ridgeway Partnership, the health trust that runs Postern House, telling them that she was the subject of a safeguarding alert and that four members of staff had been suspended.

Her mother, Lorna Blake, said: "We were not told what they had done wrong... even though this is not the same as Winterbourne View, she has still gone through a wrong - whether it is a wrong restraint or whatever, it is still wrong."

Continue reading the main story

Panorama: Find out more

• Alison Holt presents Panorama: The Hospital that Stopped Caring
• BBC One, Monday, 29 October at 20:30 GMT

Ridgeway Partnership, which runs Postern House, accepts the family should have been told more about the investigation. Wiltshire council says it has no reason to doubt that Postern House provides good care. Both Wiltshire Council and Ridgeway Partnership say the incident can't be compared to Winterbourne View.

Simone has now been moved to another hospital 200 miles away; her fourth in two years. The eight-hour round trip is too long a journey for her parents to make.

"We can't see her and we used to visit three times a week... it's not very nice to not see your child," Mrs Blake said.

Research for the "Count me in" survey in 2010, which falls under the auspices of the Care Quality Commission, found that in England and Wales one in 20 patients with learning disabilities in hospital said they had been assaulted at least 10 times in the previous three months.

'Dumping ground'

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

What allowed Winterbourne View and places like it to flourish was that [they] were used ... as a dumping ground by public bodies who had not planned ahead"

End Quote Mark Goldring Mencap Chief Executive

Care and support minister Norman Lamb said: "Lessons must be learnt from Winterbourne View and any abuse must be investigated and perpetrators punished."

Mr Lamb said the government wanted to reinforce "to local areas that they must take responsibility and eradicate mistreatment of any kind".

"I have been clear that those who lead organisations where people suffer abuse or neglect should be held accountable.

"In most cases people do not need to be in long stay institutions and we want the role of these organisations to be looked at closely."

He added: "We will very soon be publishing our final recommendations for what more can be done to prevent abuse and to protect those in vulnerable situations."

The chief executive of the learning disabilities charity Mencap, Mark Goldring, said cases like Simone's highlight a system that has resorted to warehousing difficult patients with challenging behaviour.

"What allowed Winterbourne View and places like it to flourish was that those places were effectively being used...as a dumping ground by public bodies who had not planned ahead."

National guidance on people with learning disabilities calls for them to be cared for in their communities, but the Department of Health (DoH) has estimated in England 1,500 people with challenging behaviour are currently in hospitals.

Margaret Flynn examined what went wrong at Winterbourne View in the most exhaustive report, the Serious Case Review.

She said that needs to change: "If nothing else results from the scandal of Winterbourne View Hospital I very much hope that it is scrutiny of a practice that moves people around as though they are pawns. We can and should be doing something so much better."

Panorama: The Hospital that Stopped Caring, BBC One, Monday 29 October at 20:30 GMT and then available in the UK on the BBC iPlayer.

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Concerns over care home ratings

27 October 2012 Last updated at 20:28 ET By Hannah Barnes Reporter, 5 live Investigates

Care homes with five-star ratings are receiving premium fees despite not meeting essential standards set out by the care regulator.

Local authorities pay higher fees to care homes awarded top ratings.

But critics say this is a "cheque book system" open to any home prepared to pay for a rating.

The Care Quality Commission advises people to visit homes and check their most recent CQC inspection report before making a decision on care.

Care regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC) stopped issuing its own star ratings in 2010 and now some homes pay independent ratings companies and consultants to assess them instead.

Gwenda Dunn was surprised to find that her aunt's care home had been awarded five stars by such a company.

"This is not a complaint against the home - it's a complaint as to how the home could be given five stars when it patently was not," she told the BBC's 5 live Investigates.

5 star failures

Mrs Dunn says her aunt's room was often cold and calls from her aunt for a commode during the night were sometimes ignored by staff.

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

People who aren't in the know would take it as face value, not recognising the reality"

End Quote Gwenda Dunn Niece of care home resident

Also, her aunt was frequently disturbed by another patient with dementia who often entered her room uninvited.

"I was there when the inspection was done. I spoke to the inspector and raised a fair amount of issues and then we found out within a week that the home had got five stars again," says Mrs Dunn.

"People who aren't in the know would take it as face value, not recognising the reality."

Continue reading the main story

Find out more

Listen to the full report on 5 live Investigates on BBC 5 live on Sunday, 28 October at 21:00 GMT or download the programme podcast.

The home was rated by David Allen, an independent consultant who trades under Prestige Quality Ratings (PQR).

Mr Allen says the issues raised with him lacked substance and were misplaced. He also says other people at the home spoke very highly of the care provided and he saw no reason to downgrade the home.

PQR is one of three independent ratings companies recognised by Sefton Council. The others are RDB Star Rating Limited and Assured Care.

With the top five-star rating attached, families might believe a home is providing an outstanding level of care.

But the BBC has found that out of 80 homes given a four or five-star rating in the Sefton area, 14 are failing to meet one or more of the essential standards set out by the CQC.

This includes standards of staffing, standards of treating people with respect and standards of caring for people safely and protecting them from harm.

All of the homes had been rated by either RDB Star Rating, Assured Care or PQR.

The CQC is taking action against two of the highly-rated homes, demanding immediate improvements be made - although it is not known which company provided their rating.

All three ratings companies have defended their awards system.

"I always take account of what the CQC have to say… but the CQC doesn't have to be right every time," says Frank Watts of Assured Care.

David Allen of PQR insists that his company's ratings are "accurate reflections of the quality of the care provided at care homes at the time of the assessment".

RDB Star Rating told the BBC its assessments were "comprehensive and reliable".

Higher fees for homes

Sefton Council pays a quality premium to homes given a high rating by the companies - a residential or nursing home with five stars receives an additional £40 per week on top of the basic fee paid for each person in its care.

A spokesman for Sefton Council said: "All the companies providing quality ratings use assessment criteria linked to outcomes in care home provision.

"We work closely with the CQC to ensure quality standards are closely monitored. If either party feel standards have reduced, through their own monitoring activity or inspections, we will decline or even suspend a particular rating and work with CQC in relation to this."

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

We maintain it is the responsibility of CQC as the regulator to assess the quality of care home"

End Quote Nadra Ahmed National Care Association

Sefton council is not the only one to pay a quality premium to homes awarded a four or five-star rating.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council says that since it introduced the RDB rating scheme in 2001, standards of care homes across the borough have improved.

But the BBC has learned that a quarter of its highly rated homes are failing to meet all the essential standards set out by the CQC.

"The council does feel that a new quality assessment tool would help to continue the drive to improve the quality of provision and therefore the RDB scheme will cease to be used at the end of this financial year," a council spokesperson said.

While the old Care Quality Commission rating system did have problems, critics say it was at least a system which was nationally recognised, independent, and easy for the public to understand.

"We maintain it is the responsibility of CQC as the regulator to assess the quality of care homes," says Nadra Ahmed, chair of the National Care Association which represents care homes.

"When the star rating system was scrapped by the CQC they consulted on the introduction of a system whereby assessments would be carried out by organisations independent of the CQC, which would be selected through a tendering process.

"The process was voluntary, so providers would pay to be assessed. The National Care Association felt strongly that this would be a cheque book rating system which enabled those who could afford it, to purchase a rating."

Bupa, the UK's second-largest care home group, is also critical of the CQC for abolishing its rating system:

"We would like to see them [star ratings] back so people can identify excellent care homes," said a company spokesperson.

"Other organisations, such as local councils and independent companies, are creating their own systems - but this could be confusing because there is no consistency."

The CQC warns people not to rely on ratings from outside companies when choosing a home.

"We do not endorse any external ratings systems," CQC operations director Amanda Sherlock told the BBC.

"We would recommend people look at a range of information including our website to get the latest reports into care homes, nursing homes, hospitals and other care providers."

Listen to the full report on 5 live Investigates on Sunday, 28 October at 21:00 GMT on BBC 5 live.

Listen again via the 5 live website or by downloading the 5 live Investigates podcast.

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Clocks back an hour in GMT return

27 October 2012 Last updated at 21:05 ET

Most people in the UK have had an extra hour in bed, as clocks went back to mark the return of Greenwich Mean Time.

At 02:00 on Sunday, clocks went back to 01:00 as British Summer Time ended.

It means darker evenings until they are put forward again next year.

The Science Museum in London has more than 500 timepieces in its Measuring Time gallery and the end of British Summer Time means the 35 clocks still in working order will be changed.

"It is quite a difficult job and requires specialist skills," said Science Museum's conservator Richard Horton, who is overseeing the process.

The Wells Cathedral Clock - the second oldest surviving clock in England and the third oldest in the world, dating from 1392 - involves very specific challenges.

The clock is adjusted to GMT in a 20-minute process during which it is advanced by 11 hours.

A wide range of timekeeping devices are on display at the museum, from sand-glasses to water clocks and sundials to wristwatches.

Andrew Nahum, a senior curator at the museum, said the time adjustments twice a year represent "an intriguing part of national life".

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'More violence' after riots push

27 October 2012 Last updated at 21:25 ET

The response to last year's riots has led to more violence among some gangs, an independent think tank has said.

A Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) report, to be published on Monday, said the arrest of leading gang members led to chaos in some areas after younger, wilder youths filled the power vacuum.

It calls on the authorities to focus on preventing youngsters joining gangs.

Ministers say a £10m fund is helping to stop the next generation of gang members and targeting current ones.

Although the government set aside millions of pounds to target the problem of street gangs, the report says many charities have been unaware that funding was available following the riots.

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

The alarming fact is that many streets across the country are besieged by anarchy and violence"

End Quote Centre for Social Justice report

And it accuses the authorities of a lack of follow-up work with junior gang members.

The think tank's research also revealed a marked increase in the number of girl gang members and a rise in sexual violence within gangs.

Prime Minister David Cameron promised an "all-out war on gangs and gang culture" following the riots which took hold of many English cities - including London, Manchester and Liverpool - in the summer of 2011.

Police responded by arresting many of those associated with criminal groups.

But the CSJ report finds that the removal of established gang leaders has led to the breakdown of criminal codes of behaviour and a "marked increase" in violence.

'No control'

It says: "Many in Whitehall regard the riots as a random one-off, and mistake the quashing of the disorder as control of the streets. They could not be more wrong.

"The alarming fact is that many streets across the country are besieged by anarchy and violence. There is no control in such neighbourhoods."

People researchers spoke to in riot-hit areas are said to have reported a "marked increase" in the violent behaviour of some gangs as the result of the removal from the streets of "elders" who had previously imposed a code of behaviour.

Continue reading the main story

Rioting by numbers

• Of the 3,051 people brought before the courts by 8 June 2012 for offences related to the England riots, 89% were male and 11% were female
• Of those 27% were aged 10-17 (juveniles) and a further 26% were aged 18-20
• Only 6% of those appearing before the courts for the disorder were aged 40 or over

"There was a consensus that the current gangs neither have such a code nor cohesive leadership, which is resulting in increased chaos, violence and anarchy," states the report.

Christian Guy, of the CSJ, which was founded by Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, says: "Gangs played a significant role in the riots and it is dangerous to pretend otherwise.

"In London at least one in five of those convicted was part of a gang."

The report recommends "addressing the drivers of gang culture, not just the symptoms".

It says: "The surest way of eliminating gangs is to try to ensure that children and young people never want or feel the need to join them. To do this we need to tackle deeper issues in our society and seek to nurture and support ever-strong families and stronger communities."

A government spokesman said the coalition's strategy on violence and gangs made clear this problem could not be tackled through police enforcement alone.

He pointed to a new network of Young People's Advocates to provide direct support to victims of gang-related sexual violence and the introduction of gang injunctions for 14-17 year olds.

The spokesman said: "There are no quick fixes but we are seeing results. The Crime Survey for England and Wales shows that crime is down by 6%, and police figures show knife crime is down by 9%."

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Events to back charged marines

27 October 2012 Last updated at 22:17 ET

Events are planned across the country later in support of five Royal Marines charged with murder over an incident in Afghanistan last year.

The unnamed five have been released from custody back to their unit, with restrictions on their movements.

The "show support" events are being organised in several cities including Edinburgh, Swansea, Norwich and London.

The Ministry of Defence says it would be inappropriate to comment further on the ongoing investigation.

Green lapel ribbons - some bearing the words "Free the 5" - will be worn by those who say the charges are unjust.

The ribbons will also raise money to pay for any costs to their families.

Meanwhile, thousands of people have joined a Facebook group in support of the marines.

All five marines - who have been granted anonymity - are charged with the murder of an unknown Afghan national.

The incident happened when 3 Commando Brigade were based in Helmand, on their fourth tour of duty in Afghanistan.

The marines were arrested by the Royal Military Police after suspicious video footage was found on a laptop by civilian police in the UK. A plea hearing is due to take place in December.

It is believed to be the first time UK servicemen have been arrested and charged with such an offence during the Afghanistan conflict.

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Glitter arrested by Savile police

28 October 2012 Last updated at 04:29 ET

Former pop star Gary Glitter has been arrested on suspicion of sex offences by police investigating Jimmy Savile abuse claims.

Glitter has previously been jailed for child sex offences in Vietnam.

The Met said Glitter had been taken away from his home in central London.

Police are investigating allegations that the late TV presenter Savile sexually abused some 300 young people over a 40-year period.

They have described the former BBC DJ him as a "predatory sex offender".

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Clarke has tax pledge 'doubts'

26 October 2012 Last updated at 20:53 ET

The Conservatives may not implement a change in the tax status of married couples that they previously promised, Cabinet minister Ken Clarke has said.

The married minister without portfolio told the Daily Telegraph he did not expect to see a change to his advantage in the course of this Parliament.

The government says tax is a matter for the chancellor.

In opposition, Tories promised a transferable tax allowance possibly worth £150 a year to married couples.

It would apply where one spouse stayed at home.

The Conservative manifesto stated: "We will recognise marriage and civil partnerships in the tax system in the next Parliament."

Mr Clarke told the Telegraph that tough economic conditions made it unlikely that the policy would be introduced before the end of this Parliament, in 2015.

Despite growth of 1% in the third quarter of 2012 announced earlier this week, which was better than expected, the minister said it was too early to be certain the economy was bouncing back.

Mr Clarke, a former chancellor, said he believed a "long hard road" still lay ahead and indicated that married tax allowances might be a casualty of the tight economic conditions.

"We never committed ourselves to married couples' tax by the end of the parliament," he told the newspaper.

"I'm married, I'm not counting on it. I don't remember anyone promising that kind of thing."

A spokesman for the minister later said: "It was a comment, not a statement of policy. Any tax changes are a matter for the chancellor."

The measure had been opposed by Liberal Democrats, who secured the freedom under the Coalition Agreement to abstain in any parliamentary vote on the issue.

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Army deaths 'not friendly fire'

27 October 2012 Last updated at 00:48 ET

A Royal Marine and an Army medic who died after being injured in Afghanistan were not killed by British forces, the Ministry of Defence has said.

It follows a preliminary investigation into the deaths Cpl David O'Connor, 27, of 40 Commando, and Cpl Channing Day, 25, of 3 Medical Regiment.

They may have been shot by someone in an Afghan police uniform, the MoD said.

They were fatally injured on Wednesday in a firefight while on patrol in Helmand province.

They came under fire near the village of Char Kutsa, in the Nahr-e Saraj district.

An Afghan man is also reported to have died in the incident.

Cpl O'Connor was from Havant, in Hampshire, and Cpl Day was from Comber, in County Down.

The MoD says its analysis of the deaths is continuing.

'Terrible tragedy'

It says a preliminary investigation went against Afghan police claims that the pair were shot by their own comrades.

The initial review at the scene, carried out by Nato specialists and Afghan government representatives, concluded the shooting was not a "friendly fire" incident involving British forces, it added.

Instead the shooting is said to have been was caused by what the MoD calls "a third party or parties whose identities have yet to be established but who are not UK personnel".

Afghan officials had said that the British patrol had shot dead an off-duty Afghan policeman who was not in uniform but was carrying a weapon as he washed in a stream - mistaking him for an insurgent.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said the deaths were "a terrible tragedy in Afghanistan".

He went on: "The circumstances are not entirely clear, there is an investigation ongoing. We know there were three people dead, one of them wearing civilian clothes.

"It is not absolutely clear as yet exactly what did happen and that investigation will continue until we find out exactly what happened."

Parallel investigation

Asked if it was another so-called green on blue attack - where Afghans turn on their Isaf partners - Mr Hammond said: "There is a possibility that that is what has happened but it is not clear at this stage who the shooter actually was."

BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said it was not yet clear who fired first or why.

The MoD says, "Further investigation into the involvement or otherwise of the dead Afghan male is ongoing."

It adds that its analysis is likely to take some time while forensic and other tests are carried out.

A parallel Royal Military Police investigation is also being conducted.

Cpl O'Connor was deployed to Afghanistan at the end of September as a section commander in the acting rank of corporal.

Cpl Day, who joined the Army in 2005 and was deployed to Afghanistan on 2 October, was the third British female to have died while serving in Afghanistan since 2001.

A total of 435 British military personnel have been killed in Afghanistan since operations started in 2001.

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Women who quit smoking 'cut risk'

27 October 2012 Last updated at 02:36 ET By James Gallagher Health and science reporter, BBC News

Women who give up smoking by the age of 30 will almost completely avoid the risks of dying early from tobacco-related diseases, according to a study of more than a million women in the UK.

The results, published in the Lancet, showed lifelong smokers died a decade earlier than those who never started.

But those who stopped by 30 lost, on average, a month of life and if they stopped by 40 they died a year younger.

Health experts said this was not a licence for the young to smoke.

Continue reading the main story

'I started aged 11'

Angela started smoking when she was 11.

"Before I knew it, I was addicted," she said.

She used to hide her habit by taking the dog out for a walk. At one point she was smoking 10 cigarettes a day and more if she was going out.

After several attempts to quit she was successful: "I had a bit of a health scare and that really gave me the motivation to finally kick the habit."

She is now 29 and says it is "brilliant" news that quitting before the age of 30 could make a big difference to her health.

"It's amazing, I can feel it already actually."

The study followed the first generation of women to start smoking during the 1950s and 60s. As women started smoking on a large scale much later than men, the impact of a lifetime of cigarettes has only just been analysed for women.

"What we've shown is that if women smoke like men, they die like men," said lead researcher Prof Sir Richard Peto, from Oxford University.

He told the BBC: "More than half of women who smoke and keep on smoking will get killed by tobacco.

"Stopping works, amazingly well actually. Smoking kills, stopping works and the earlier you stop the better."

Early death

The records from 1.2 million women showed that even those who smoked fewer than 10 cigarettes a day were more likely to die sooner.

Sir Richard said that it was exactly the same picture as for men.

The British Lung Foundation said the prospects for long-term health were much better if people stopped smoking before they were 30, but cautioned that this was not a licence to smoke "as much as you want in your 20s".

Continue reading the main story

Smoking

• Smoking is responsible for more than five million deaths worldwide every year
• Smoking tobacco is a known or probable cause of around 25 diseases
• Cigarette smoke contains 4,000 chemicals that can damage the human body
• Eighty of which are known to cause cancer

Source: BBC Health

Its chief executive, Dr Penny Woods, said: "Stopping smoking can also be difficult to do - an estimated 70% of current smokers say they want to quit, so you shouldn't start and just assume you'll be able to quit smoking whenever you want to.

"The best thing for your health is to avoid smoking at all."

Prof Robert West, from the health behaviour research unit at University College London, said it was important to remember that smoking had more effects on the body than leading to an early death, such as ageing the skin.

"Around your mid-20s your lung function peaks and then declines. For most people that's fine - by the time you're into your 60s and 70s it's still good enough. But if you've smoked, and then stopped there is irreversible damage, which combined with age-related decline can significantly affect their quality of life.

"Obviously there is an issue around smoking if they want to get pregnant because it affects fertility and then there are the dangers of smoking during and after pregnancy."

The chartered health psychologist, Dr Lisa McNally, who specialises in NHS stop smoking services, also emphasised other factors.

Speaking to BBC News, she said: "There's the danger isn't there that people could almost take permission to continue to smoke to 30 or even to 40, but actually in my experience younger women quit smoking for other reasons other than life expectancy.

"They're more concerned about the cosmetic effects."

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Service to commemorate El Alamein

27 October 2012 Last updated at 02:57 ET

Veterans of the Battle of El Alamein are to attend a special service at Westminster Abbey to mark its 70th anniversary.

The Allied victory in North Africa led by General Montgomery was seen as a turning point in World War II.

More than 4,000 Allied servicemen lost their lives and almost 9,000 were wounded.

The victory over German and Italian forces came after 12 days of intense fighting in the desert.

The service is expected to be attended by around 40 British and Australian veterans, many of whom are now in their 90s.

The ceremony will include readings and an address by the Reverend Jonathan Woodhouse, chaplain-general to HM Land Forces, in tribute to those who fought in the battle.

Wreaths will also be laid at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior.

At the time of the battle the Allies were fighting to keep their vital supply lines open, from the Mediterranean to their forces in the east.

But the German Afrika Korps commanded by General Erwin Rommel had inflicted heavy defeats on Allied forces in Africa.

Describing the significance of the battle in October and November 1942, Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill said: "Before Alamein we never had a victory, after Alamein we never had a defeat."

The Allied victory frustrated Nazi hopes of taking the Suez Canal and the Persian oilfields.

Last week veterans from Britain, Australia, New Zealand and other allies gathered at the Commonwealth war cemetery in northern Egypt, on the edge of what was the desert battlefield, to mark the victory.

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Funeral for MP Sir Stuart Bell

27 October 2012 Last updated at 04:13 ET

The funeral of Middlesbrough's MP is to take place later.

Sir Stuart Bell died on 13 October following a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

The 74-year-old senior Labour backbencher had held his seat for 29 years. In 2004 he was honoured with a knighthood for services to Parliament.

His funeral, which has been described as a celebration of his life, will be held at St Barnabas Church in Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, at 12:00 BST.

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Briton 'to admit' weapons charges

25 October 2012 Last updated at 22:26 ET

A retired businessman extradited to the US on charges of selling weapons parts to Iran is to change his plea to guilty after reaching a deal with prosecutors.

Christopher Tappin, 65, had always denied trying to sell batteries for surface-to-air missiles, claiming he was the victim of an FBI sting.

The BBC's Alastair Leithead said Mr Tappin would enter a guilty plea when he appears in court next week.

Mr Tappin, from London, was due to go on trial in Texas on 5 November.

If convicted, the former president of the Kent Golf Society could have faced 35 years in jail.

Mr Tappin was arrested by UK police in 2010 and fought a two-year battle against extradition.

The former director of Surrey-based Brooklands International Freight Services strongly denied the charges, saying he believed he was exporting batteries for the car industry in the Netherlands.

Mr Tappin was eventually flown to the US in February after British judges said the extradition was lawful.

The grandfather-of-one was then held at New Mexico's Otero County detention centre for two months before being released from custody on bail of $1m (£620,000).

His bail conditions required him to wear an electronic tag, to surrender his passport, and to travel only to El Paso and Houston, where he has been staying with one of his lawyers.

Speaking in April, Mr Tappin, of Orpington, south-east London, said: "I'm not a terrorist.

"I've never had any connections with terrorism and I'm just appalled that things could come to this sort of stage - especially in my life now, when I'm 65, been retired for four years and enjoying retirement."

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Malala Yousafzai family visits UK

25 October 2012 Last updated at 19:29 ET

Relatives of the Pakistani schoolgirl shot in the head by a Taliban gunman have arrived in the UK where she is recovering in hospital.

The family members are believed to include Malala Yousafzai's father, Ziauddin Yousufzai.

After flying into Birmingham they were given a police escort to the city's Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The Taliban said it shot Malala for "promoting secularism". She is known as a campaigner for girls' education.

Mr Yousufzai has previously told Pakistani media that his daughter will return to the country after she has recovered.

He has dismissed reports that the family would seek asylum in the West because of threats by the Pakistani Taliban.

Malala was shot in the Swat Valley on 9 October as she travelled home from school with two classmates. Doctors said the bullet grazed the teenager's brain when it struck her just above her left eye.

She was flown to Birmingham to receive treatment unavailable in her own country.

Doctors at the hospital said on Thursday that she was still comfortable and responding well to treatment.

They have said Malala will need a period of recuperation before undergoing surgery.

Part of her skull will need to be reconstructed either by reinserting bone that was removed or with a titanium plate.

Since the attack, the teenager has received thousands of goodwill messages from around the world.

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British man shot dead in Belgium

26 October 2012 Last updated at 01:52 ET

A senior British oil executive has been shot dead in a suburb of the Belgian capital Brussels, it has emerged.

Father-of-three Nicholas Mockford, 60, who worked for Exxon Mobil, was attacked as he left a restaurant with his wife nearly two weeks ago.

The killing took on place on 14 October but details have just been revealed because of a news blackout in Belgium.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said it was providing consular assistance to the family of Mr Mockford.

Police initially thought the killing could have been an attempted car-jacking because witnesses saw the couple walking across the street to their vehicle before the attack.

But Mr Mockford was shot three times, once as he lay on the ground, leading to speculation he could have been deliberately targeted.

One Belgian officer told the BBC the killing was a "very strange case" which had now been passed to federal investigators.

A spokesman for Exxon Mobil said: "We are shocked by the tragic death of one of our employees.

"Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues and we are supporting them as best we can at this very difficult time."

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Teacher training tests toughened

26 October 2012 Last updated at 03:21 ET By Hannah Richardson BBC News education reporter

Entry tests for people wanting to become teachers will be more rigorous to raise the quality and standing of the profession, the government says.

Teacher trainees in England face tougher tests in English, mathematics and reasoning from next September.

They were developed by a panel of heads and experts following complaints current tests were too easy.

Education Secretary Michael Gove says the "rigorous selection" of trainees is key to raising standards.

He added: "These changes will mean that parents can be confident that we have the best teachers coming into our classrooms.

"Above all, it will help ensure we raise standards in our schools and close the attainment gap between the rich and poor."

Limited retakes

The move follows a government-commissioned review by a panel of heads and educationists of the current skills tests for people wishing to become teachers.

The new exams replace simple arithmetic with more complex mathematical problems without the help of calculators.

And there will be longer written exercises rather than straightforward word identification. In English, as now, candidates will be tested on spelling, grammar and punctuation.

Continue reading the main story

We also want teaching to be a real choice for top graduates"

End Quote Charlie Taylor Teaching Agency

There are also questions in verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning and the pass mark has been raised.

But, perhaps most importantly, from September 2013 anyone wishing to train to be a teacher must pass these tests before attending a training course. Currently trainees sit these later on in their course.

Candidates will also be limited in the number of times they can retake the test, being allowed to sit it three times. Anyone who fails three attempts will not be allowed to take the test again for a further two years.

But unions have expressed concerns about the move - saying it places too much emphasis on those who are new to teaching.

Undermining profession

Association of Teachers and Lecturers president Julia Neal said: "If you're going to raise standards it's not just about recruiting teachers in the first place, it is actually keeping them and retaining them.

"I do think that sometimes there's a message going out which is really just undermining the profession. Are we saying that teachers at the moment aren't good enough because they haven't passed these tests?

"I do worry about the message that's going out about the profession."

The current tests were introduced between 2000 and 2003, amid concerns about the standard of teachers' literacy, numeracy and ICT.

The government says the plans are part of wider measures to raise the quality of teachers in England to match the best-performing countries in the world.

Charlie Taylor, chief executive at the Teaching Agency, which is responsible for administering the new test, said it was part of his strategy "to create an outstanding workforce of teachers".

"This is what parents expect and children deserve.

"We also want teaching to be a real choice for top graduates and by raising the bar on entry, we will further raise the status of the profession."

Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said all teachers needed strong literacy skills and a good grasp of mathematics.

"It is however surprising that Michael Gove is showing such interest in the entry requirements for teacher training courses, while at the same time advocating that schools should be free to employ unqualified teachers.

"The real issue is the training and support that teachers are given once they have entered into teaching training."

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Penguin talks lift Pearson shares

26 October 2012 Last updated at 03:39 ET Continue reading the main story

Shares in Pearson rose 1.5% in early trading on Friday following the announcement that it was in talks about merging its Penguin publishing house with rival Random House.

Pearson confirmed the talks after the markets closed on Thursday.

They are seen as part of its plans to focus the business on education.

Random House, which is owned by Germany's Bertelsmann, has recently become the biggest publisher in the UK, with Penguin at number three.

Random House has had a successful year, helped by the Fifty Shades series.

Among Penguin's best-sellers for the year have been Jamie Oliver's cookbooks.

Pearson warned there was no certainty that the talks would be successful.

The Financial Times, which is also owned by Pearson, quoted sources saying that if the talks were successful, Bertelsmann would end up with more than 50% of the combined publisher.

"Pearson confirms that it is discussing with Bertelsmann a possible combination of Penguin and Random House," a company statement said.

"The two companies have not reached agreement and there is no certainty that the discussions will lead to a transaction. A further announcement will be made if and when appropriate."

Pearson chief executive Marjorie Scardino is stepping down at the end of this year and will be replaced by John Fallon, currently head of Pearson's International Education division.

This part of the business is crucial to its future growth strategy.

A merger between Penguin and Random House would be the biggest tie-up in the industry since the Lagardere bought Time Warner books to create Hachette in 2006.

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Olympians have 2012 medals stolen

By Frank Keogh BBC Sport

Olympic rower Alex Partridge says he is devastated after he and hockey player Hannah Macleod had their London 2012 bronze medals stolen.

They were out celebrating with other Team GB members in the capital after a Buckingham Palace reception on Tuesday when the medals went missing.

Partridge's medal was inside a blazer which was taken in the early hours.

The 31-year-old told BBC Sport: "It's very, very upsetting. It would mean everything to me to get them back."

Partridge, whose bronze in the men's eight followed a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, added: "I worked for 12 years of my life to try to achieve something at the Olympic Games and that's what I've got to show for it.

"While we were out and dancing away, I noticed I'd misplaced my blazer. In the morning I thought one of the other Olympians must have picked it up by accident, but no-one had it.

"I always say to people it's not about the medal, it's about the journey but I guess you don't appreciate the value of it until it's not there.

GB women pick up hockey bronze

"It was only when I picked up my 16-month-old daughter from nursery it really dawned on me. If it doesn't come back she won't see everything I worked for, which was a representation of being in the best British Olympic team and possibly the best Olympics ever."

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said it was investigating reports of an Olympic medal and blazer being stolen from an event in Mayfair, although the force had yet to be contacted about a second stolen medal.

"It was believed the items were taken between midnight and 5am on Wednesday, 24 October. No arrests have been made. Inquiries are ongoing and the property is still outstanding," he said.

Olympic and Paralympic stars had earlier been invited to Buckingham Palace to mark their achievements along with the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, Duchess of Cambridge, Prime Minister David Cameron and London 2012 chief Lord Coe.

Henley-based Partridge and 28-year-old Macleod used their Twitter accounts to appeal for information about the missing medals.

"Someone else might have it right now and if they do, I'd really appreciate having the medal back and the blazer, which had two pins on it representing the silver medal in Beijing and taking part in London 2012," said US-born Partridge.

Macleod, who hails from Boston in Lincolnshire, was a member of the women's team who beat New Zealand to secure a medal.

Police say anyone with information should call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Viable Afghanistan 'may not work'

24 October 2012 Last updated at 20:32 ET

The UK might have to recognise that creating a viable state in Afghanistan is not achievable, an influential group of MPs has said.

The Commons international development committee said the UK should reconsider its ambition of building Afghan government institutions in favour of more traditional aid targets.

These especially included improving the lives of Afghan women, the MPs said.

The government said it had pledged to do more to help women in Afghanistan.

'Better future'

The MPs' report described abject poverty in the country and pointed out that Afghan women were three times worse off than men and far more likely to be illiterate.

But the report said it was vitally important, nevertheless, not to abandon the people of Afghanistan - especially the country's women.

Continue reading the main story

Many British soldiers have died or been injured in the attempt to give Afghanistan a better future. "

End Quote Sir Malcolm Bruce International development committee chairman

Committee chairman Sir Malcolm Bruce said: "Many British soldiers have died or been injured in the attempt to give Afghanistan a better future.

"The Afghan people want their country to succeed, and the UK should continue to support them with a major aid budget in the country after the troops leave.

"It is questionable whether DfID [Department for International Development] has the capacity to build a viable state but we should be able to deliver effective development."

'Litmus test'

The committee said talk about women's rights in the country had not been followed by "practical action".

The treatment of women after troops left would be the "litmus test" of whether the UK had improved the lives of Afghans, the report said.

Women in Afghanistan had made gains since the Taliban were ousted in 2001, the cross-party committee said, but they continued to face "enormous disadvantages".

On a recent fact-finding trip, the MPs were concerned the situation for women "appeared to us to have deteriorated in some respects since our last visit in 2007".

They found not enough evidence that aid programmes run by DfID were helping to protect and promote women's rights.

The MPs urged the government to do more "to combat violence against women through support for women's shelters and legal services".

DfID should also continue to ensure education for women and girls was a major focus, they said.

Sir Malcolm said: "The UK government has talked a lot about women's rights in Afghanistan, but it has not followed this up with enough practical action.

"The treatment of women in Afghanistan after troops pull out in 2014 will be the litmus test of whether we have succeeded in improving the lives of ordinary Afghans over the last 10 years."

'Big difference'

A DfID spokesman said: "We agree that women's rights should be at the heart of our work in Afghanistan.

"UK funding is already making a big difference - it has helped get 2.2 million girls into school and our £19.5m Tawanmandi civil society programme is providing over half its grants to Afghan women's organisations.

"But we agree that massive challenges remain. That is why the new secretary of state has pledged to do more to make sure Afghan women have the opportunity to take decisions that affect their own lives.

The charity Oxfam said international aid had meant a record number of boys and girls now went to school in Afghanistan.

But it added: "Huge challenges of extreme poverty, the position of women and corruption remain.

"The hard won gains of recent years need to be secured and aid needs to target the most vulnerable, boost the position of women and support local initiatives to hold Afghanistan's authorities to account."

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