and showing no signs of returning to work, those benefits would be stopped if they didn't take part in some workplace return to the workplace scheme. i'm nowjoined by thomas lawson, chief executive of a benefits charity of the thank you for being here for the what did you make of that decision? to stop benefits from those who are not trying to get actively back into work? ., , ., ., , trying to get actively back into work? .,, ., .,, .,, work? crop that was the most concerning — work? crop that was the most concerning thing _ work? crop that was the most concerning thing my - work? crop that was the most. concerning thing my colleagues work? crop that was the most - concerning thing my colleagues heard today to stop what is it really means to completely stop someone but benefits after they have been through a period of perhaps two years try to get into work? chances are there are real issue stopping from working for the it's interesting to hear the conservatives talk about compassion. that stops the dignity, respect and understanding and normally, when we are taking 250 call today to our helpline from people who are really struggling with the cost of living, that cost of living problem hasn't gone away. we are talking about inflation of 4.6%, but food inflation of 4.6%, but food inflation is at 10.1% and if food is one of the biggest things you are spending, your experience of inflation is way north of that. i think there are real challenges put up the rhetoric about stopping, this is going to challenge you, when people are already struggling, that's going to cause erosion of trust and it's going to cause anxiety and possibly further ill—health. that was really concerning. ill-health. that was really concerning.— ill-health. that was really concerninu. ~ , concerning. might say, come up o- osina concerning. might say, come up opposing if— concerning. might say, come up opposing if you _ concerning. might say, come up opposing if you have _ concerning. might say, come up opposing if you have not - concerning. might say, come up opposing if you have not been i opposing if you have not been looking at work for 18 months, you get a further six months, part of this training work programme, only then would your benefit stopped, and that will be the challenge, how to differentiate between those who simply don't want to work and those who can't work for whatever reason, and that's where you come in, the people who want to work but struggle to find that work the what are some of the barriers preventing people returning? of the barriers preventing people returnin: ? ., ., , returning? from there are still 140,000 returning? from there are still 140.000 people _ returning? from there are still 140,000 people with - returning? from there are still 140,000 people with long - returning? from there are still. 140,000 people with long throw returning? from there are still- 140,000 people with long throw the result of poor mental health because of the last few years. there are some very real, genuine reasons, physical disabilities, very real reasons why people are not working, and i think that creating the rhetoric, we are co—take away your benefits, must be very anxiety provoking people facing that difficulty. it is never really our experience that people are avoiding work. , ,.,, ., experience that people are avoiding work. , ., , experience that people are avoiding work. ., ,~ work. opposition party so the solution to — work. opposition party so the solution to getting _ work. opposition party so the solution to getting people - work. opposition party so the | solution to getting people into work. opposition party so the - solution to getting people into work is solving waiting lists and improving mental health care, because those are some of the red berries to if you are on a waiting list, they can't get back to work. it feels like that could be one way of doing it in conjunction with other proposal. what would you see as the best way to get more people into work if it's not cutting benefits? i into work if it's not cutting benefits?— into work if it's not cutting benefits? ., ., . ~ ., benefits? i would tackle the idea that people _ benefits? i would tackle the idea that people are _ benefits? i would tackle the idea that people are poor _ benefits? i would tackle the idea that people are poor because - benefits? i would tackle the idea - that people are poor because they're lazy and stupid and don't know how to organise their people on low incomes know how to manage budgets better than most people. that rhetoric around needing to punish people is really unhelpful. that's the thing i would stop first. all the thing i would stop first. all the other things, addressing housing, health problems, all the things, they were welcome in today statement, but the rhetoric is unhelpful. i5 statement, but the rhetoric is unhelpful-— unhelpful. is thank you for explaining _ unhelpful. is thank you for explaining some _ unhelpful. is thank you for explaining some of - unhelpful. is thank you for explaining some of those l unhelpful. is thank you for - explaining some of those changes there is so much for us to get through to explain what's been happening today to the full coverage of the autumn statement on this website with all the details you need to know later, we will answer some of your questions. keep them coming into the eye will be joined by personal finance experts to look at what we have heard today and what difference it could mean for your budgets at home. let's bring you up—to—date with some of the other main stories. the covid inquiry has just finished for the day in central london to sir chris whitty, the chief medical officer, stated he didn't believe all parts of number ten appreciate the urgency with which action needed to be taken in the early days of the pandemic. his former deputy, jonathan dan tan, began giving evidence they admitted there were times the pressure nearly led him to resign ml; there were times the pressure nearly led him to resign— led him to resign my view is that althouah led him to resign my view is that although there _ led him to resign my view is that although there were _ led him to resign my view is that although there were lots - led him to resign my view is that although there were lots of- although there were lots of expressions about the nhs overwhelm that was possible, my view is that we were, we were the first to run out of high—intensity care beds and it is possible within a couple of weeks, if we had not acted when we did, we would have reached a position where the number of people requiring admission with covid severe enough to require hospital care could not have been admitted. jonathan van—tam speaking after chris whitty finished giving evidence. there is full coverage of that on the website and live streams if you want to follow that. you can do so on the iplayer or the website. we are in westminster following events of the autumn statement we had the response from the shadow chancellor, rachel reeves, telling us what she made of that statement from the chancellor, and let me play you a bit of what she had to save it is clear that today's labour is the party of economic and fiscal responsibility for and what have the conservatives learnt? the conservatives learnt? the conservatives have learnt absolutely nothing. mr speaker, the country is crying out for change. a decaying government can change its personnel but they have failed to change the direction of our country for in 13 years, we have had seven chancellors. you wouldn't run a business like this. we can't run a country like it either. and the prime minister can't even promise that this chancellor will be in place at the next election. rachel reeves. place at the next election. rachel reeves- let's _ place at the next election. rachel reeves. let's talk _ place at the next election. rachel reeves. let's talk to _ place at the next election. rachel reeves. let's talk to liz - place at the next election. rachel reeves. let's talk to liz gentle, l reeves. let's talk to liz gentle, labour shadow secretary of state for work and pensions to the chancellor says this is about getting people back into work and he says it's not an statement for growth or do you agree? an statement for growth or do you auree? ., , ., ., agree? no,, the statement laid bare how families — agree? no,, the statement laid bare how families are _ agree? no,, the statement laid bare how families are worse _ agree? no,, the statement laid bare how families are worse off _ agree? no,, the statement laid bare how families are worse off because l how families are worse off because the country is worse off. under this parliament, we now know that we will see the biggest fall in living standards since records began. and that, despite the announced tax cut, the tax burden is still going to be the tax burden is still going to be the highest for 70 years. the reason why is the country is not growing. and that is what we need to change if we are going to put money into people pockets and get our public services back on their feet. the urowth services back on their feet. the growth figures _ services back on their feet. the growth figures were pretty damning from the independent office for budget responsible to, say next year would fall to 1.7%, down from their previous forecast, 2025, previously forecasted 2.5, now down to 1.4% dip that's after everything the chancellor has announced, taking into account everything the chancellor has said. so his plan isn't going to get the country growing again at labour's plan would get britain building again, would get britain building again, would get british businesses investing again and give us the skills we need to really unleash the talents of the british people. we need a different approach because what the government are doing is not working. what approach because what the government are doing is not working.— are doing is not working. what if the labour— are doing is not working. what if the labour plan? _ are doing is not working. what if the labour plan? we _ are doing is not working. what if the labour plan? we need - are doing is not working. what if the labour plan? we need to - are doing is not working. what if the labour plan? we need to get britain building _ the labour plan? we need to get britain building again _ the labour plan? we need to get britain building again to - the labour plan? we need to get britain building again to build . the labour plan? we need to get| britain building again to build the houses that people need and to build the critical infrastructure we need. to get britain growing. we also really need to get businesses investing, and our plan for a national wealth fund, where public sector investment will lift in the private sector to create the new high skill, high wage jobs for the future, but crucially, do, it's about equipping the british people with the skills we need, with new technical excellence colleges and really changing apprenticeships. that is what businesses say to me in my constituency is, they need long—term certainty, they need proper infrastructure as they need the people to have the skills they need to succeed. that's what the labour plan is and i'm afraid what you have seen from jeremy hunt today is just more of the same. you have seen from jeremy hunt today isjust more of the same.— isjust more of the same. jeremy hunt pointing — isjust more of the same. jeremy hunt pointing out _ isjust more of the same. jeremy hunt pointing out that _ isjust more of the same. jeremy hunt pointing out that your - isjust more of the same. jeremy hunt pointing out that your plan | hunt pointing out that your plan would load debt on to future generations, extra borrowing, extra spending, whichjust push generations, extra borrowing, extra spending, which just push the problem down the line you talk about business investment the government put out this is the largest tax cut in modern history, that full, every £1 that business invest in new equipment, they get 25p back in tax cuts. let's welcome for business and encourage them to make long—term decisions. encourage them to make long-term decisions. ., . , encourage them to make long-term decisions. ., ., , ., decisions. from anything that encourages — decisions. from anything that encourages businesses - decisions. from anything that encourages businesses to - decisions. from anything that - encourages businesses to invest. we have been calling for the government to have more certainty for business investment but what businesses will also say is they need people to have the skills they need to employ so their business can grow and they need certainty. the tories want to try and eradicate the past but they cracked the economy, there are unfunded tax cuts and unfunded borrowing said the economy into a spiral and labour has changed. we have shown that fiscal responsibility is at the heart of our approach. and businesses need to look for security look what happened over hs2, £45 billion spent and then they pulled the plug. businesses need certainty that what labour is offering. liz need certainty that what labour is offerina. ., ., ~ need certainty that what labour is offerina. ., ., ,, , ., offering. liz kendall, thank you, shadow secretary _ offering. liz kendall, thank you, shadow secretary of _ offering. liz kendall, thank you, shadow secretary of state - offering. liz kendall, thank you, shadow secretary of state for i offering. liz kendall, thank you, i shadow secretary of state for work and pensionsjoining me in westminster. we are going to return to the autumn statement in a second worker to try and answer some of your questions about what the announcement could mean for you. i want to bring you up—to—date with another main story that is new is an agreement has been route to pause the fighting between israel and hamas in order to release 50 of the hostages that were abducted from israel in the 7th of october tax. abducted from israel in the 7th of octobertax. hamas, dismissed october tax. hamas, dismissed literal octobertax. hamas, dismissed literal position by the government, saysin literal position by the government, says in exchange 150 palestinian presence will be freed from israeli prisons. the pores, which could begin in 24 hours, is due to last forfour days per dip with begin in 24 hours, is due to last for four days per dip with the details, it was our correspondence. 47 days into this war, much of gaza lies under rubble. in the latest deadly fighting, children are said to have been crushed here in this camp in an israeli strike which hit a family home. and they also morning here in khan younis, despite people had heard news of a truce and desperately want it to stick. irate desperately want it to stick. we have been _ desperately want it to stick. , have been fleeing from one place to another. we hope the ceasefire would be good that we will see positive solutions. we want people to live in peace so they can go back to their jobs and houses and have stability. plan, sign it off in the early hours. they are great of plan, sign it off in the early hours. they are great- plan, sign it off in the early hours. they are great of at least 50 hosta . es hours. they are great of at least 50 hostages would _ hours. they are great of at least 50 hostages would be _ hours. they are great of at least 50 hostages would be released, - hours. they are great of at least 50 hostages would be released, all. hostages would be released, all women and children. that would be overfour women and children. that would be over four days women and children. that would be overfour days while women and children. that would be over four days while fighting in gaza would be paused. the release of every additional ten hostages will result in one additional day of course. now, these are some of the israeli children who could soon return home. this child is four and loves football. this is the youngest hostage, just ten months old. in tel aviv last night, campaigners stood together as ministers met. they have been keeping up public pressure to bring their loved ones home. nervously waiting for news, this man is seven relatives missing, including his young grandchildren. nobody told me my family would be in this deal. ok for their 40 children inside gaza and they are going to release only 30. where are the others? i don't know the i hope that everybody will be released. palestinian families are also expecting to hear about women and teenagers set to be released from israeli jails as part of the deal to dip an official responsible for prisoners believes it's an important step. prisoners believes it's an important ste -. , prisoners believes it's an important ste. , . prisoners believes it's an important ste . _ , ., . ., prisoners believes it's an important ste. , ., , .,., step. this deal could signal a chance step. this deal could signal a change in — step. this deal could signal a change in the _ step. this deal could signal a change in the general - step. this deal could signal a - change in the general atmosphere. this could calm the situation and create a new reality. aha, this could calm the situation and create a new reality.— this could calm the situation and create a new reality. a few hundred more lorry-loads _ create a new reality. a few hundred more lorry-loads of _ create a new reality. a few hundred more lorry-loads of aid _ create a new reality. a few hundred more lorry-loads of aid expected i more lorry—loads of aid expected during the truce should help improve the dire humanitarian situation in gaza. more fuel, which has been in short supply, is to be allowed in. for now, on all sides, there is cautious activism is the desperate optimism. much more on that story for you, optimism. much more on that story foryou, including optimism. much more on that story for you, including the live page updated with all the developments from the conflict. you can find that on the bbc news website. now, it's time for your questions answered. now, let's try and answer some of your questions on the announcements that were made by the chancellor in the autumn statement. to answer the many questions you have sent in, i'm joined by lawsuit, head of personal finance at the investment platforms aj bell and also somebody from a consumer finance specialist. aj bell and also somebody from a consumerfinance specialist. nice aj bell and also somebody from a consumer finance specialist. nice to see you both. loads to get through, so let's jump into the questions. a question here, i'd like to know the implications of abolishing class two national insurance contributions. what effect will that have on self—employed people? it is self-employed people? it is scrapping — self-employed people? it is scrapping an _ self-employed people? it is scrapping an entire - self—employed people? it 3 scrapping an entire class of national insurance. firstly, it will make it simpler to refile district file tax returns, theyjust have one national insurance pay for class two contributions give you entitlement towards things like state pension for the government says you will still get that entitlement. you just don't need to pay the fee, which at the moment is about three per 50 weeks, in order to get that entitlement is the one question from chris, i understand they are making those contributions gives people years of their state pension, so how can they do that going forward you will still automatically get out from the government, that contribution towards your state pension. so you need a certain amount of years to qualify for the full state pension for you will get those credits towards it without paying that david used or crucially will be able to voluntarily pay to top up that record, so some people have gaps in their nati