Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC Newsroom Live 20170221

To have been injured. A former speaker of the House Of Lords tells the bbc that many peers contribute absolutely nothing to parliament. Good morning. Its tuesday, 21st february. Im joanna gosling. Welcome to bbc newsroom live. Hospital services in nearly two thirds of england could be cut or scaled back according to bbc analysis of local plans in different areas. Ministers argued that patients will benefit as care is brought closer to peoples homes but a major Health Think Tank has questioned the credibility of the plans. Protests outside Horton Hospital in oxfordshire just a few months ago where there are concerns about bed closures and cuts to stroke and critical care. And its not the only place. Right across england proposals for big changes are afoot in the nhs. The bbc has analysed 44 of the transformation and sustainability plans. Two thirds include either Hospital Closures or moving treatments to a different site. More than a third involve cuts to the number of hospitals providing non emergency treatments and around one third plan to reduce the number of hospitals offering emergency care. Proposed closures to Hospital Beds have been heavily criticised by the think tank the kings fund. More generally, though, it says the plans are the best hope of delivering essential reforms to the nhs, but it says it cant be done without extra funding. Ideally there ought to be an earmarked fund for new investment, to strengthen and improve the out of Hospital Services, and to shore up adult social care, which is really in crisis at the moment. If those additional funds arent forthcoming, the government needs to be honest about the consequences for patients and what the offer to the public will be. The Department Of Health says its confident the nhs plans will help patients get better care, with improvements to Mental Health and Cancer Services and more access to gps. With me is our Health Correspondent, nick triggle. We were hearing there from The King S Fund about concerns whether the transformation that is discussed is going to be delivered because of whether the funding will be there. Is it going to be there . Theres a concern. The plans are about moving ca re concern. The plans are about moving care out of hospitals and into because thats my community. The kings fund is concerned there isnt enough capacity in the community and they say more money is needed to boost Community Services. They want to create Community Hubs or they wa nt to to create Community Hubs or they want to move consultants out of hospital into community clinics. The Transformation Fund was set up this year with £1. 8 billion to help boost these Community Services, but that has been spent on covering the deficits we heard about yesterday. That was £872 million already over three quarters. So already they are chasing their tails. How will it be fixed . Nhs england maintains there is money coming in in future years to help improve investment in Community Services, but people are concerned about the scale of hospital cuts. Like you say, some offer non closures and others involve scaling back of Services Like Accident Emergency and stroke care. They question whether it will be too much for the community to handle. These are only the draft plans to change the way the nhs works. At the moment, there is a lot of consideration given to how they should develop further and we are likely to see proper consultations ta ke likely to see proper consultations take place later this year. The details could still change. Its important to look at the theory. The funding is vital but whether the theory will deliver what has been talked about. One example is stroke ca re talked about. One example is stroke care in london where stroke care was accessible in 30 places and then it was reduced to eight Super Centres. Now it is world class so thats a good example of how limiting whats offered can deliver benefits. Does that roll out, necessarily, in areas which arent cities, rural areas . in london is a good example. It is considered to be a World Class Service now. You get quick treatment treatment. But london is different from the west of the country. The Big Challenge The Nhs faces is the rise in long term conditions like dementia and Heart Disease. People benefit more from early help in the community to keep them well rather than getting impatient Hospital Care when their condition deteriorates. So what the nhs is trying to do is make sure they give support to people close to their homes, keep people well and out of hospital. But it is difficult when money is so tight. It is a consultation at this stage. What will the potential time frame beaver changes to be delivered . They are slightly behind schedule. They were hoping to start launching Public Consultations early this year but that likely to be delayed. I suspect the earliest we will see some changes implemented will be at the very end of this year. The idea is to make the changes by 2020 and start saving the nhs money by that point. If you have any thoughts on this or concerns you send us your questions and we will put them to chris, from the kings fund, the organisation questioning the financial aspect of plans. Do let us know your thoughts. A heterosexual couple have lost their appeal for the right to enter into a Civil Partnership instead of a marriage. Rebecca steinfeld and Charles Keidan, from london, took their case to the Court Of Appeal following a defeat at the High Court Last year. They claim its unfair that only same sex couples can have a Civil Partnership. Daniel boettcher is outside the Court Of Appeal. They point out that gay couples can marry and have Civil Partnerships, whereas heterosexual couples do not have that option. Why did they lose their case . Well, let me go over the background. In 2014, they wanted to form a Civil Partnerships but were told it was impossible because, under the law that set up Civil Partnerships, it was only available to same sex couples. In 2014, same sex couples could also get married in england, scotland and wales and the couple argued that, because they are not given that choice of having a Civil Partnership, it discriminates against them. They also argue it is incompatible with their right to family and private life under the human rights convention. They first took their case to courtjust over a year ago and they lost. They then took it to appeal and the hearing was heard in november. Today, the judgment was handed down by the senior of the three judges on the bench, ladyjustice arden. We are handing down ourjudgments today in the matter of the couple versus the Secretary Of State for education. A wider background, since the introduction of Same Sex Marriage in 2014, same sex couples have had the choice of entering into Civil Partnerships or into marriage. In contrast, Civil Partnerships act 2004 currently bars opposite sex couples from entering into Civil Partnerships. Therefore, the only status open to opposite sex couples wishing to formalise their relationship is marriage. The marriage of same sex couples acts of 2013 requires a review of the operation and the future of Civil Partnership. The Court Of Appeal today dismisses the appeal of Rebecca Steyn Felt and mr keidan, refusing the Judicial Review of the Secretary Of States decision, not at this stage to propose any change to the bar of opposite sex couples entering into Civil Partnership. This decision was on one issue a majority decision. Even though they have lost this, the couple say there is enough in the ruling to give hope that they can take this further, that they can take this further, that they can take this further, that thejudges agreed that they can take this further, that the judges agreed there was a potential human rights breach but the government should have more time to decide on the future of Civil Partnerships. The couple gave their reaction to the decision outside court afterwards. Marek edge is what we do recognise as a valuable part of the institution for many people but its not right for us marriage. There are many thousands in exactly the same position. There are over 3 million long term couples in this couple and the Fastest Growing family type but they fight that financial and legal protections. This will improve the stability of family life in this country. I outlined some of the points the court considered, but what, in essence, is at the bottom of your legal action here . The base is that we are being treated u nfa i rly is that we are being treated unfairly based on our Sexual Orientation. Although we lost, it was very narrow, a Split Decision from the judges will stop on many points the judges agreed with us that we are being treated differently because of our Sexual Orientation and it impacts on our private and family life and its unsustainable, the difference in treatment so the government needs to act now and extensible partnerships to everyone so those 3 million cohabiting couples can have legal and financial protection they deserve. So, the couple now say the ball is in the government is caught. If the government does not indicate its prepared to make a change in the law then they will seek leave to ta ke the law then they will seek leave to take this to the highest court, to the supreme court, for a further appeal. Thank you, daniel. The chancellor Philip Hammond has assured conservative mps that hes listening to concerns about a Business Rate Revaluation in england and wales. The rates are being updated for the first time in seven years, and will leave more than a quarter of Companies Facing higher bills. Mr hammond is facing pressure to do more to help those affected. Our assistant political editor, norman smith is in westminster. Norman, its obviously causing concern amongst businesses and disagreement in westminster. Just summarise the views in westminster on this. There is a mounting revolt over the Business Rates revaluation, but the first signs of a potential rethink after Philip Hammond struck a very different tone to that with which we come accustomed to four ministers. They rebuffed any suggestions of a climb down, suggesting those campaigning for it up suggesting those campaigning for it up basically peddling Scare Stories about the impact on shops of the rate rise. But last night, Philip Hammond was much more molly and an suggesting he was open minded and in Listening Mode and alive to their concerns, albeit i note this morning ministers arriving for cabinet were saying absolutely nothing when pressed about a possible climb down. As the government got it wrong Business Rates . Will you let businesses close . Did you get your figures wrong on Business Rates . Do you need to explain yourself to mps . So, no answers there but what tory critics are pressing for is some sort of transitional process to ease the new rates system being introduced. Some, though, are pressing for even more radical action. One says the chancellor said forget about the whole business of the revaluation. We had this issue with domestic rates and Council Tax Andi with domestic rates and council tax and i was a Local Government Minister at the time. I decided not to do the revaluation and leave it be because we knew it would be a disaster to try to do the revaluations. It needs and lentil reform and a proper look at how Business Rates are done. We cant leave it five or seven years a fundamental reform. In the lords today, ministers will keep a close eye on day two of peers looking at the brexit built with threatened amendments. Yesterday, we had the highly unusual step of the Prime Minister going and sitting in the lords to listen to the debate, just sitting on the steps beneath the throne watching peers as the debate got underway. Downing street insisted she was not trying to intimidate peers but i think a fair number of peers but she was trying to eye ball number of peers but she was trying to eyeball them and remind them of just how significant she regards this legislation to be. They finished debating last night at around 16 minutes past midnight. Todayit around 16 minutes past midnight. Today it is likely to go even longer because there are Something Like 110 peers due to speak. Yesterdays debate was dominated by what happens to eu nationals and their rights if they are living in the uk. Also the question about whether there will be a meaningful vote on whether parliament will be able to send mrs may back to the negotiating table. Here are some of the highlights. They did want to leave the European Union but they didnt want to turn britain into a poorer, politically isolated, offshore tax haven. Brexit isolated, offshore tax haven. Brexit is the most important single issue which has faced the country for decades. For many of us, the approach being adopted by the government is little short of disastrous. I voted to remain in the European Union, but i support this bill because i believe the referendum was decisive. It looks 110w referendum was decisive. It looks now as if the United Kingdom is part ofan now as if the United Kingdom is part of an europe that in the long sweep of an europe that in the long sweep of history, it will seem like a 45 year aberration. My daughter, isolate those who devoted heart and see new to it but it was a doomed cause see new to it but it was a doomed cause my lords, i salute those. See new to it but it was a doomed cause my lords, i salute Thoselj Wonder if some of the remarks by the European Commission will be raised today because baking in the past hour or so he has issued more dark warning notices about the brexit negotiations. And finalising the trade negotiations. It could be a hefty bill as the price for quitting the eu. The headlines Hospital Services in early two thirds of england could be cut or scaled back. A heterosexual couple have lost their Court Of Appeal battle to have a Civil Partnership instead of a marriage. The chancellor says he is listening to concerns about the impact of higher bills on some retailers which ta ke higher bills on some retailers which take effect from april. Ina take effect from april. In a moment we will bring you a report on the shortage of teachers in schools in england which mps says getting worse. Sutton united are act of the fa cup. Theo walcott scored his 100th goal for gunners. They play another non league team, lincoln city, in the quarterfinals. Newcastle united are back on top in the championship. They now lead brightened by one point. Open golf prize money might be paid in golf dollars this year s busier because of fall in the value of the pound. I will be back with an update in15 pound. I will be back with an update in 15 minutes. An israeli soldier who shot dead and wounded palestinian militant has been sentenced to jail. He killed him in hebron last year. It is rare for a Military Court to rule against a soldier over Lethal Action taken in the field. Our correspondence is in tel aviv and joins us. Just remind us about this case and why it has been so polarising. Polarised because so many people serve, nearly eve ryo ne because so many people serve, nearly everyone served in the israeli fence force and nearly everyones children also. It was an accident in march 20 16th that saw the soldier come across what had been a hostile action, two palestinians approached action, two palestinians approached a checkpoint in hebron, attacked his colleagues. He himself came to the scene ten minutes later, tended to his colleagues who had been injured then loaded his weapon and shot one of the attackers in their head killing him immediately. He was convicted of Manslaughter Injanuary and today was sentencing. The prosecution asked for a sentence of the 25 years and in the end of judges gave a lower sentence than that, 18 months 2 5 years. People came today to express their very vocal support. This has been deeply polarising between those who say it Isa Polarising between those who say it is a young conscripts serving his country and protecting his people who should never have been prosecuted and those who say the rule of law has to be upheld and that shooting to kill, especially when the victim, the attacker, was lying on the ground and incapacitated was something that should not be tolerated. It is extremely divisive and it is not over. There will be an appeal or attem pts over. There will be an appeal or atte m pts to over. There will be an appeal or attempts to receive a pardon or get the sentence reduced and the people here outside are not happy about the sentencing, would like to have seen the case dismissed in its entirety. What has been the political and military reaction been . We dont have political reaction at the moment. The Prime Minister himself is in australia. He is presumably a sleep as it is one oclock in the morning there. The senior hierarchy of the Israeli Defence force have always backed this prosecution saying it is important that the rule of law is upheld. It was a Military Court with Threejudges Listening upheld. It was a Military Court with three judges listening to the evidence and came to their conclusion in march that manslaughter had been committed. But there was a division between senior Military Figures and senior nationalist politicians who almost immediately backed the soldier, including the Prime Minister and that division1 including the Prime Minister and that division 1 think will continue. It isa that division 1 think will continue. It is a very live wire. Weve had angry reaction also banned the pa rents of angry reaction also banned the parents of the palestinian victim who said that the verdict was, in their words, a joke and that the authorities and courts were laughing in theirfaces authorities and courts were laughing in their faces because of what they saw as a very light sentence. Thank you. Specialist police teams are digging up the gardens of two properties in swindon. One is believed to be the former home of Christopher Halliwell, whos serving a whole Life Sentence for the murders of two women, sian ocallaghan and becky godden. Our correspondent will glennon is in swindon for us. Well, the alleyway behind me has been sealed off since yesterday at the back of this row of houses on broad street near the centre of swindon. Police forensic officers have been coming and going this morning. Weve heard hammering and drilling and it sounds like they are breaking up concrete at the back of the houses. There are white Police Scenes of crime tents at the back there. It is very difficult to see what is going on at the moment, but the police work has been continuing throughout the morning. Insignificant they are working here because the house belonged to Christopher Halliwell, the convicted double murderer, between 1996 and 2000. Police say they are acting on fresh intelligence they have received. Christopher halliwell was convicted last september of the murder of a young woman from swindon, becky godden, whose body was found in a field in gloucestershire. She disappeared in 2003. Christopher halley will was given a whole Life Sentence for her murder and thats because he was already serving a Life Sentence for the murder of another Young Swindon woman, sian ocallaghan, killed in 2011. There are eight years between the two murders and their significant speculation there may be a number of other victims. Last september, at the trial, a former detective with Wiltshire Police told the bbc there were eight victims. He was the detective in charge of the investigation in 2011 and he interviewed Christopher Halliwell at the time and he said that halliwell said to him, are you here to talk to me about the h crimes . So there have already been two bodies found and potentially there could be another six the eight crimes . In australia, five people have died after a small plane crashed into a Shopping Centre in melbourne. The Shopping Centre wasnt open and no one on the ground is thought to have been hurt. Our sydney correspondent, hywel griffith, reports. Inside the wreckage of the plane which came swooping from the sky. Eyewitnesses describe seeing flames rise after it crashed into the Shopping Centre which was due to open its doors one hour later. We understand there was potentially catastrophic Engine Failure but we are on is and sure at this stage. It crashed into the back of the shopping mall. It took more than a dozen fire crews to extinguish the flames. The aircraft would have been full of fuel. Drivers on the nearby freeway reported feeling the heat as it burned. The crash has left many shocked. Its a desperately sad day for our state. A number of people have died as a result of what is the worst Civil Aviation accident that our state has seen for some 30 yea rs. Our state has seen for some 30 years. All flights out of the airport have been system ended as teams on the ground tried to establish exactly what went wrong have been suspended. We arejust we are just getting Breaking News of an apparent incident in barcelona where police say theyve did ten detained a man driving a truck against high speed against the traffic on the highway. Local media report the Police Stopped the driver with gunshots. The track was travelling on a highway, according toa travelling on a highway, according to a police spokeswoman, near the harbour in barcelona and National Television is reporting that the truck rammed several cars before local police fired several gunshots to stock it. The police bugs woman would not confirm the gunshots and said the driver is being questioned. We will stay across those reports and keep you updated if we hear any more. A day after declaring a famine in south sudan, the United Nations has warned that other countries could see similar crises. A 100,000 people are facing starvation as a result of the civil war in south sudan. But the United Nations says almost one and a half million children are at risk of dying of starvation in four countries in africa and the middle east. Catriona renton reports. In this Childrens Hospital in the countrys capital, theres acute malnutrition. This girl gets one or maybe two meals a day. Her mother cant afford to feed her. Upcountry, where the fighting goes on, even more people are affected. In unity state, the rebel stronghold, 100,000 people are now in the grip of famine. A further million in the country are on the brink. Some aid has been delivered, but not enough is getting through. People are dying of starvation every day. Three years of civil war have taken their toll. The real tragedy is that this is largely man made. We do have famine and Food Insecurity has worsened in many parts of this country, largely because of this u nfortu nate conflict. And this is part of a bigger picture. The un is warning three more countries somalia, nigeria and yemen are at risk of famine. In south sudan, over 3 million have been forced from their homes. 1. 5 million have fled to neighbouring countries, like these people arriving in uganda, creating one of the worst Refugee Crises in the world. As these mothers and children wait for help, the un warns urgent action is needed or the situation will only get worse. The singer and actor, david cassidy, has revealed he is suffering from dementia. He made the announcement after he forgot his words during shows in california at the weekend. David cassidy, whos 66, rose to fame in the tv series the Partridge Family before becoming a teen idol, and recording a string of solo hits in the 19705. A former House Of Lords speaker claims that many peers contribute nothing to Parliament Despite claiming their allowance. Others say peers can be suspended if they claim allowa nces peers can be suspended if they claim allowances without doing any work. The commons were made in a bbc documentary about Life In The House and the 3 part documentary is to be shown on bbc two. There is a core of peers who work incredibly hard to do that work and there are, im sad to say, many, many peers who contribute absolutely nothing but who claim the full allowa nce. Absolutely nothing but who claim the full allowance. I can remember one occasion when i was leaving the house quite late and there was a peer who shall be utterly Nameless Whojumped peer who shall be utterly nameless who jumped out of a taxi just outside the entrance and left the engine running. He ran in presumably to show hed attended anand ran out again while the taxi the Deputy Speaker of the House Of Lords say any member who abuses the code of conduct should be reported to the committee for standards. What surprises me is, as the lords speaker at the time, she did not ta ke speaker at the time, she did not take the opportunity to defer it to the right place, namely the independent commissioner. The independent commissioner. The independent commissioner. The independent commissioner has investigated a number of complaints over the years. Only last year she investigated a complaint by a lord who was suspended until the end of that session. People seem to be coming into the building fairly dry in london but it is not the case everywhere. In the east, there were even hints of brightness. But this cloud is really quite thick across the west. Increasing rain through the afternoon. Really quite windy across the far north. But it is relatively mild for the time of year. That band of whether sinks further south to allow a really windy start of a new day on wednesday. A blustery day across the north. Some of the guests could be touching 80 miles an hour. Further south, you have still got the cloud, some breeze and a fair amount of rain. A fresher feel further north. And then we have got an amberwarning about further north. And then we have got an Amber Warning about the strength of the wind as we head towards thursday and thats because we now have storm doris, which will cause real problems. This is bbc newsroom live. The headlines at 11. 30pm. Analysis for the bbc has revealed that nearly two thirds of local plans to reform nhs services in england involve closures or downgraded hospital facilities. The government says patients will receive better care in the community. A heterosexual couple have lost their appeal for the right to enter into a Civil Partnership. London couple Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan claim its unfair that only same sex couples are given an alternative to marriage. Chancellor Phillip Hammond says hes listening to concerns about a Business Rate Revaluation in england and wales. More than a quarter of companies are facing higher bills as rates are updated for the first time in seven years. Unicef says nearly 1. 4 million children are at imminent risk of death in famines in four african countries, including south sudan and yemen. The childrens agency says political failure and conflict are to blame. In business, we speak to the ceo of a company specialising in prosthetic limbs as part of our Disability Works series. Now lets join now letsjoin ollie now lets join ollie foster for the sport. Arsen wenger says he could never manage a non league team because it would be too difficult. The Arsenal Manager was full of respect for Sutton United in the fa cup last night. The gunners did window. 2 0. Peres with a fortuitous first. And theo walcott scored his 100th goal for the club in the second half. 105 places separate the two sides. Arsenalface places separate the two sides. Arsenal face lincoln city in the quarterfinals. For Sutton United, it is back to their Relegation Battle in the national league. But they have made £1 million after their cup run. 20 years ago in Division Five they we re 20 years ago in Division Five they were not as fit as they are today. They did not drop physically at all. They did not drop physically at all. They remained absolutely focused, organised, a huge desire in their game andi organised, a huge desire in their game and i would say if we were not mentally prepared, we might have not gone through today. Sutton uniteds Reserve Goalkeeper was caught on Camera Eating a pie in the dugout towards the end of the match. It soon emerged it was actually a Publicity Stunt for a betting company who had offered odds on it actually happening. He seems to confirm afterwards that some of his fronts had made many on the bed, which would break fa rules. If you knew the goalkeeper, you probably would not be very surprised. Wayne is a top man. I didnt know anything about it. He has got himself in the papers again. Fame has obviously got to his head little bit. But we will soon bring him back down to earth, dont worry about that. Newcastle united are top of the chappie chip again after a victory over aston villa. The championship. Uk sports Chief Executive, liz nichols, said sport can have no excuses for any failure in looking after the welfare of the act athletes. A report into bullying in British Cycling is expected to be published in the next month. She also revealed they were never given the full details of a 2012 internal review into cycling that might have highlighted some of the Current Issues being investigated. It is no excuse for not actually addressing their responsibilities to athletes. There is no excuse for not putting athletes first. They are the ones that will deliver medals. Every programme should be trying to make sure that they have happy athletes, successful athletes, and theyre probably hasnt been enough attention given in sport to how they do things. Theres a lot of focus on operational delivery, probably not enough on leadership, management and communication. The Chief Executive of the rma says they are considering awarding prize money at this year s open in dollars because of the falling value of the pound. The Open Prize Fund has fallen significantly behind the us. Henrik stenson one over £1 million last season but in prize money has decreased. It is very important for our game, it is very important for golf in the uk that the open is viewed as one of the worlds greatest Sporting Events and it is important that we get the right framework, the right structure in place. This is a professional game. Our players play for money so dollars is one option. I will be back with more in the next hour. Lets get more not now our top story that sost areas of england will see Hospital Services cut or moved under plans to save money and improve efficiency. Analysis by the bbc has also found that about a third of the proposals would see a reduction in the number of hospitals offering emergency care. Doctor Andrew Gothard is in the studio. And we are also joined by the Chief Executive of the nhs federation. What do you think about these proposals . The main point of these proposals . The main point of the proposals is to get to a point where hopefully patients can be cared for closer to home, it will focus more on prevention and that will reduce the health needs of the population, reducing health and social care costs. That is the place we Wa Nt Social Care costs. That is the place we want to get to. So if there were no money issues, would that be the ideal way . That is still the ideal place to get to but getting there is going to take a lot longer than the plans propose. One of the other purposesis plans propose. One of the other purposes is to get the books to balance. You can save money by shutting hospitals but unless you have got services to replace those, patient care is deteriorating. The direction is right, the destination is right, the scale and the pace is wrong. I agree with a lot of that. There is a tendency to confuse two issues. They has long been a history of public opposition to changes to the Way Health Services are organised. Sometimes they were good, sometimes they were less good. But we do have to move away from an obsession that bricks and mortar and buildings, and more talk about services. The reality is that services. The reality is that services are under enormous pressure and part of the reason is that services are not properly organised to be able to provide care in the community, which prevents the pressures reappearing in the hospital sector. I think a lot of these plans are an attempt to try and move that on so that new services are developed in the community so that they then becomes less pressure in hospitals. The question is a justified one. We are ina very question is a justified one. We are in a very difficult period, particularly around social care, with funding has been in effect cut and we have got 2 million elderly people without any support in the community at all. We have also got an nhs which frankly has managed rather well over the last five or six years with very little extra funding andl six years with very little extra funding and i think that is really starting to show now. So there is an absolute funding issue at the heart of this but the need for reform is absolute. Its not a question of, lets have more money, we need reform, its a question of both. You said about moving away from the obsession with bricks and mortar but if you hear that nearly two thirds of local plans will involve closures or downgraded hospital facilities, inevitably you will be worried about what it will mean for care where you are. I think thats right and there is always a balance between access and quality and the question then is, our people simply shutting these things down simply for financial reasons or are they shutting them down because they can actually build a better and more Viable Service . It is both a question of resources but also a question of manpower, whether you can actually get these specialist skills and spread them out throughout an area or whether you are much better concentrating them. A form of stroke care over the la st them. A form of stroke care over the last few years has demonstrated you can improve peoples chances of living if the ambulance drives past some hospitals or former hospitals or whatever and goes to the specialist centre. So in london specifically, there were 30 areas where you got treated for stroke, now there are Super Centres and decay has improved as a result . Indeed. The ultimate goal is about a better and more Viable Service but you are talking about your concerns about the time frame and how it is done. If it is done in the way that is being outlined, does it then mean it is not a viable proposition . was on call last night, running around our medical assessment unit, trying to find beds for patients. The thought of having 10 less beds, in some cases they are talking about 2596, in some cases they are talking about 25 , does not seem achievable for me ina 25 , does not seem achievable for me in a three to four time window. You have got to have the setting in the community and the support services there to look after those patients. You cant suddenly move everything. Getting the workforce engaged is really key. Health, social care, nurses, carers, doctors, if they are not engaged with this and they are not engaged with this and they are not on board, it wont succeed. Neal, do you agree with that time frame . Yes, i do. I suppose the plea to government and National Bodies is to government and National Bodies is to have a bit of patience around this. But everybody wants everything done very quickly and i absolutely agree with that. The plans have to command a degree of local consensus and what is being attempted is bringing together organisation that, frankly, in the past, havent talked to each other enough. Often there is waste in the system because it is not properly integrated. I think it will take time to get that and it does need a bit of patience. Thank you both very much and if youve got thoughts on this, send your questions in. You can text your questions. E mail us. We will put your questions to our guest at 12 30pm. The shortage of teachers in schools in england is getting worse according to a report by mps. The Commons Education Committee says Recruitment Targets have been missed for five years in a row and there should be more focus on Keeping Teachers in the profession long term. It also says that key subjects like maths and physics are being affected. Frankie mccamley reports. Maths class for these children with mr walton but professionals like him are increasingly hard to come by according to a group of mps who is a School Teacher shortages in england are getting worse. Im into my fourth year of teaching now and i know that some people have dropped out now. I think thats mainly due to workload and pressure and things like that. The Education Select Committee is calling for a Long Term Plan to recruit more teachers and a bigger emphasis to be placed on retaining them, warning many are leading. Many cite a lack ofjob satisfaction, Curriculum Changes and workload. Research has found teachers in england with nearly 20 more than they do in other similar countries, an average of nearly 50 hours a week. 20 of those are spent here in the classroom teaching. Mps say secondary schools are hardest hit in subjects like physics, maths and computing. What weve got to get across isjust how important teachers are to our society and our economy. They need to feel valued, they need to feel trusted. The Department For Education says its investing in Teacher Recruitment and development to make sure the best in the profession stay put. In a moment a summary of the Business News this hour but first the headlines on bbc newsroom live. Hospital services in nearly two thirds of england could be cut or scaled back, bbc analysis of local plans shows. A heterosexual couple have lost their appeal for the right to enter into a Civil Partnership. London couple Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan claim its unfair that only same sex couples are given an alternative to marriage. And a Light Aircraft had crashed into a Shopping Centre in australia. Now the Business News. Shares in hsbc are down 5 after the Bank Reported a steeper than expected fall in annual profits. They banked a £5] billion pre tax profit for 2016, down 62 on the year before. The bank says most of the fall is down to one off charges including fines and the sale of its operations in brazil. Chancellor Philip Hammond has told conservative mps he is listening to their concerns about the Re Evaluation of Business Rates. Rates are being updated for the first time in seven years to bring them into line with property values. But some have argued that significant increases will lead to businesses shutting down and are urging mr hammond to use next months budget to soften the impact. And sticking with the budget, Government Finances were £9. 4 billion in surplus last month, meaning the government took in more than they spent. The figures come from the office for national statistics. Its normal to have a bit left over injanuary because of the high level of Income Tax Receipts that month, but its the biggest january surplus since 2000. So its leading to lots of speculation about how much extra money the chancellor might have to play with in next months budget. All this week, were doing a series called Disability Works. Its a week of coverage looking at how businesses work with people with disabilities and how disabled people have made Business Work for them. Our south of england Business Correspondent alastair fee joins me from basingstoke. Hes at a 125 Year Old Company which makes prosthetics for people whove lost limbs. You join me youjoin me in you join me in the position Assembly Department here. Around 5000 new patients are referred to Specialist Companies like this every year. In a moment i will be speaking to the ceo but first ive been to meet one man who benefits from the very latest pathetic technology. Prosthetic technology. Steve lost his right leg in a motorbike accident. If people are capable of doing some sort ofjob, get to it. I would rather be working than sat at home all day doing nothing. This company is a world leader in the design and manufacture of prosthetic legs. The ability of the individual to partake in the work environment, pay their taxes. The game by society is huge. By reducing the cost of care, the long term cost of care, all of these little factors, when you add them up, make a big difference. Over time the technology has made huge leaps. A microprocessor controlled me together with a hydraulic ankle giving the User Stability and confidence. It allows me to walk downstairs leg over leg. This one will lower me down each step. One step at a time. The things they have come up with are extremely good and they work extremely well. They will get better but they work pretty well now. These advances have cut the cost of Long Term Care and enable patients to continue an active working life but the demand is great. It estimated there are 10 Million People need of a prosthesis in asia and africa and a further 5 million across europe and america. Joining me is the ceo. We havejust heard from steve, who holds down two jobs. How extensive is the support on offer across the economy . We are very much trying to make sure that all our patients are able to achieve all our patients are able to achieve all the ins and lead fulfilled lives. We have a significant amount of patience in the uk and the recent announcement of around 4000 patients who are eligible for microprocessor is an indication of the number of patients we assist. So what is the demand like across this industry globally . There are millions of patients were quite worldwide who require prosthetics. In the uk there are around 44,000 active patients and we treat a number of those in our centres. The introduction of new technologies allow those patients to live more fulfilled lives, to be safer and to use their products in a way that enhances the opportunities for employment and we treat a full range of patients from Military Amputees and veterans right through to retired people who need to be able to continue to live independent lives. Adrian, thank you very much for joining lives. Adrian, thank you very much forjoining me. You might be wondering who gets access to this technology. Well, the good news is that the nhs has recently agreed to fund this. This is the latest microprocessor me. Making this Technology Accessible to everyone who needs it. Thank you very much. Heres a look at some other stories were following today. The worlds biggest miner, bhp billiton, reports a near eight fold rise in underlying first half net profit to £2. 6 billion from £332 million a year earlier. And shareholders received a bigger than expected dividend of 32p a share, signalling its growing confidence amid a resurgence in commodity prices. And youtube is to scrap unskippable 30 second advertisements from 2018. Google has confirmed that it will focus on formats that work well for both users and advertisers and says long unskippable adverts on the Video Streaming Service are seen as a nuisance by many viewers. Lets just take a look at the market. Thats all the Business News. Eight years after it was criticised by inspectors for not having enough beds, Operating Theatres or trained staff at birmingham Childrens Hospital has become the first of its kind to be rated as outstanding. The Specialist Hospital has been praised for turning its fortunes around. Our Health Correspondent jane dreaper visited one of the wards. A mothers tender touch. Connor is just seven months old and recovering in Intensive Care from a liver transplant. Home is 50 miles away so his older brotherjames has changed school. Give him a kiss. It is a tough time for the whole family but they feel supported by the staff in birmingham. We have nearly lost him several times over the last six weeks. Without them we would not have a child that is laying in this bed. While he is still quite poorly, we have got him and he is here and we have got him and he is here and we have got him and he is here and we have every faith that we will get to ta ke we have every faith that we will get to take him home and that is the only ask of as a parent of a sick child. This is the play and admissions centre, designed to distract young patients before their treatment. Inspectors have been impressed with the hospitals caring approach. This hospital has come a long way since it was criticised by inspectors eight years ago. Back then a report found there was a shortage of beds and poor training and care. Paying much closer attention to the views of patients and staff and acting on the ideas has helped change the culture in birmingham and encourage better teamwork. Eight years ago we were in an organisation that certainly was not listening to our staff, that was not listening to our staff, that was not listening to what our children, young people and families were saying and was in a really difficult place. Through focusing on those areas of patient engagement, staff engagement, we have now got to a position where we are now outstanding. Some of the children in outpatients need repeated appointments so it is vital they co mforta ble. Appointments so it is vital they comfortable. A couple of weeks ago i was with a doctor. It wasnt scary or anything, it was very relaxed and he actually helped me. I felt confident. Is it scary when you come here or do you feel ok about it . Confident. Is it scary when you come here or do you feel 0k about it . feel 0k about it. Here or do you feel 0k about it . feel ok about it. The emotional support given to bereaved parents has also been praised in the report and they will now be able to use this new room when they are going through the worst of times. Rachel has helped raised thousands of pounds for this unit after the death of her older Daughter Molly from kidney cancer. When you are given news like that, you feel you cant read sometimes, you need fresh air, you need to absorb information thats being told to you. There wasnt that opportunity within the existing building. Just be ourselves asa family existing building. Just be ourselves as a family and together. The staff here believe they can improve care even further but today is a huge moment in showing how this hospital has turned a corner. The headlines are coming up on the bbc news channel. In a moment we say goodbye to viewers on bbc two. First we leave you for a look at the weather. A very good morning. Just about dry enoughin a very good morning. Just about dry enough in the centre of london but it isnt like that everywhere. At best the day look like this. There is an awful lot of cloud piling in from the atlantic. That catches the eye and with good reason. The first signs of some very wet and windy weather to come for the northern pa rt weather to come for the northern part of scotland. Here we are getting on through the afternoon. The last of the days sunshine will eventually disappear on the eastern side of england and scotland and all the while it is just staying murky across these western areas. You are fully exposed. No chance of sunshine on this diagonal stretching away from the south. A wet afternoon across northern ireland, much of Central And Western Scotland and away into the north where it is already windy with some of those gusts touching gale force. The temperatures in the middle part of the afternoon. Not as mild as it was yesterday. I think we will get up to around 14 or 15. Overnight, the wind will be a real feature across the northern half of scotland. The Weather Fronts lens its way further southwards and thats an important feature because it keeps the rain coming across parts of wales but it tracks the milder across southern counties. Further north, Clearing Skies and it turns that little bit fresher. But it is very windy. 80 mph for the far north of the mainland and Orkney And Shetland too. But a blustery day with some sunshine. Plenty of showers. And then quite a bit of cloud through northern ireland, the north of england, and then we keep it mild and dank across the southern counties. The best of the sunshine further north. This is thursday. An Amber Warning from the met office for the strength of the wind across north wales, the north of england and the midlands. Where is that coming from . This is stormed doris. Not only a lot of isobars but on its northern flank we are pushing moisture into cold air and there will be a lot of snow around across central and southern parts of Scotla Nd Central and southern parts of scotland and the north of england. Ill have more in half an hour. This is bbc news and these are the top stories developing at midday most hospitals in england face cuts or the scaling back of services under local reform plans, bbc analysis shows. A heterosexual couple who went to the Court Of Appeal after being told they could not have a Civil Partnership have lost their case. We recognise marriage as a valuable pa rt we recognise marriage as a valuable part of the institution for many but its not right for us. We want to be partners in life and law and many others feel exactly the same way. The chancellor says he is listening to concerns about the impact of higher Business Rates bills on some retailers which take effect from april. A day after declaring a famine in south sudan, the United Nations has warned that other countries could see similar crises. Also, five people have been killed in a plane crash in the australian City Of Melbourne. The Light Aircraft suffered Engine Failure and crashed into a Shopping Centre, which was preparing to open for the day. No one on the ground is thought to have been injured. A British Army Team of women are undergoing theirfinal a British Army Team of women are undergoing their final training as theyre attempting to become the first all female expedition to walk across the the arctic. Good afternoon. Hospital services in nearly two thirds of england could be cut or scaled back. Thats according to a bbc analysis of local plans in 44 different areas. In 28 of these locations planned changes range from full closures to centralising services such as a e on fewer sites. Ministers argue that patients will benefit, as care is brought closer to peoples homes, but a major Health Think Tank has questioned the pla ns credibility. Our Health Reporter Sophie Hutchinson has the details. Protests outside Horton Hospital in oxfordshire just a few months ago where there are concerns about bed closures and cuts to stroke and critical care. And its not the only place. Right across england proposals for big changes are afoot in the nhs. The bbc has analysed 44 of the transformation and sustainability plans. Two thirds include either Hospital Closures or moving treatments to a different site. More than a third involve cuts to the number of hospitals providing non emergency treatments and around one third plan to reduce the number of hospitals offering emergency care. Proposed closures to Hospital Beds have been heavily criticised by the think tank the kings fund. More generally, though, it says the plans are the best hope of delivering essential reforms to the nhs, but it says it cant be done without extra funding. Ideally there ought to be an earmarked fund for new investment, to strengthen and improve the out of Hospital Services, and to shore up adult social care, which is really in crisis at the moment. If those additional funds arent forthcoming, the government needs to be honest about the consequences for patients and what the offer to the public will be. The Department Of Health says its confident the nhs plans will help patients get better care, with improvements to Mental Health and Cancer Services and more access to gps. Our Health Correspondent explained about the concerns raised over the proposals. The plans are about moving care out of hospitals and into the community. The kings fund is concerned theres not enough capacity in the community to take on extra patience and they say more money is to boost Community Services. They want to create super hub is where gps, Health Workers can come together or they want to move services into community clinics. A fund was set up this year with £1. 8 billion to help boost these Community Services but that has been spent on covering the deficits we heard about yesterday. That was £872 million already over three quarters. Obviously they are chasing their tails so how will it be fixed . Nhs england maintains money is coming in in future years to help improve investment in Community Services but people are concerned about the scale of the hospital cuts. Some are full on closures and others involve scaling back specialist Services Like stroke care and accident and emergency and done on such a scale we question whether it will be too much of the community to handle. These are only draft plans to change the way the nhs works. At the moment, there is a lot of consideration given to how they should be developed further. We are likely to see proper proper consultation Public Consultation later this year but the details could still change. Its important to look at the theory. The funding is vital but whether the theory delivers. One example is stroke care in london where it was accessible in 30 different places then reduced to eight Super Centres i know care in london is now a world class. A good example of how limiting whats on offer can deliver benefits. Does that row that necessarily in areas which arent cities, rebel areas . in london is a good example. Which arent cities, rebel areas . in london is a good examplem which arent cities, rebel areas . in london is a good example. It is considered to be a World Class Service now care. London is different from the rest of the country there and what works here might not work elsewhere. The big challenge for the nhs is the rising long term conditions like dementia or Heart Disease and that people develop more from early help in the community to keep them well rather than getting impatient Hospital Care when their condition deteriorates. The nhs is trying to get that support close to their own homes, they keep people well and out of hospital. But its difficult when money is so tight in the health service. Its a consultation at this stage. What with the potential time frame beef or changes to be delivered . Already they are slightly behind schedule. They were hoping to launch Public Consultations earlier this year but it looks like that will be delayed. I suspect the earliest we would eat see some changes implemented would be at the end of the year. The idea is to make the changes by 2020 and start saving the changes by 2020 and start saving the nhs money by that point. If youre concerned about nhs cuts, send your questions in. Well put them to chris ham who youve just heard from, at 12. 30. You can text or e mail and tweet. A heterosexual couple have lost their appeal for the right to enter into a Civil Partnership instead of a marriage. Rebecca steinfeld and Charles Keidan, from london, took their case to the Court Of Appeal following a defeat at the High Court Last year. They claim its unfair that only same sex couples can have a Civil Partnership. Our correspondent is outside the Court Of Appeal. Obviously, if you are same sex you have two choices, but heterosexual couples dont. Why did they lose their case . Well, they first said they wanted to form a Civil Partnership in 2014 and they we re Civil Partnership in 2014 and they were told by the local Registry Office it wasnt possible because the law as it was set out in 2004 stated they had to be between two people of the same sex. They have argued that this discriminates against them and its incompatible with their rights to a private life and to family life. They took the case to courtjust over a year ago and lost. They then launched an appeal which was heard in november. Today, the three judges appeal which was heard in november. Today, the threejudges handed Down Theirjudgment today, the threejudges handed down their judgment and it today, the threejudges handed Down Theirjudgment and it was read by theirjudgment and it was read by thejudge, mr mrsjustice arden. The Court Of Appeal today dismisses the appeal against an earlier decision of the high court, refusing them Judicial Review of the Secretary Of States review not at this stage to propose any change to the bar on opposite sex couples entering into Civil Partnership. The decision was on one issue a majority decision. In theirjudgment, all the members of the court agreed first that the bar constitutes a potential violation of the appellants human rights. The couple say this was a closejudgment rights. The couple say this was a close judgment and even though they lost that there is enough in it for them to be confident that ultimately they can still win. They say the judges say there is a potential human rights breach but that the government should have more time to decide on the future of Civil Partnerships. I spoke to the couple about their reaction after the case. Marriage, we recognise, is a valuable part of the institution for many people but its not right for us. There are many thousands in exactly the same position. There are over 3 million long term couples in this country and the Fastest Growing family type but they lack that financial and legal protection. This will improve the stability of family life in this country. I outlined some of the points the court considered, but what, in essence, is at the bottom of your legal action here . The basis is that we are being treated unfairly based on our Sexual Orientation. Although we lost, it was very narrow, a Split Decision from the judges, 2 1. On many points the judges agreed with us that we are being treated differently because of our Sexual Orientation and it impacts on our private and family life and its unsustainable the difference in treatment so the government needs to act now and extend Civil Partnerships to everyone so those 3 million cohabiting couples can have legal and financial protection they deserve. So, the couple now say the ball is in the governments court. If the government does not indicate its prepared to make a change in the law then they will seek leave to take this to the highest court, to the supreme court, for a further appeal. Thank you, daniel. Government finances were £9. 4bn in surplus last month meaning the government took in money than they spent. The figures come from the office for national statistics. Its normal to have a bit left over injanuary because of the high level of Income Tax Receipts that month but its the biggest january surplus since 2000. Here to talk about what that might mean for the upcoming budget is our economics editor, kamal ahmed. This is good news. Tell us about it. Not this is good news. Tell us about it. N ot ofte n this is good news. Tell us about it. Not often you can say there is good news with public finances but keep it in perspective. January is a month where the government receives a big proportion of its tax receipts from businesses and from Self Assessment so our own individual tax assessments. But the numbers are positive. Whats interesting is if you take the whole Financial Year to date up to january and theyre still two months to go, the government had less than at any stage since the financial crisis. If we remember, the conservatives and the coalition came into power in 2010 and said their big project was to fix the public finances. Because weve had better Economic Growth since the referendum that than expected, that to an extent that moved towards balancing the books so what the government spends and earns being the same amount, we are closer to that neither many people expected. It could give the chancellor a bit of wriggle room around the time of the budget to spend small amounts of money on things like those toxic Business Rates and the controversy around that, nhs and social care. Maybe mr hammond might think, could i do a bit more because the public finances are in slightly better order. As you point out, there are two big headaches for the government. The social care one has been brewing for a long time and there have been lots of calls for action and also Business Rates. Philip hammond is a very different type of chancellor from George Osborne. He is not the type of chancellor, according to treasury people ive spoken to who are treasury people ive spoken to who a re close treasury people ive spoken to who are close to him and, frankly, speaking to him, Who Big Political Movers and Stuffing Treasury gold into problematic areas. It looks good when you say that you want to save some money and then suddenly you save some. The treasury is still concerned there could be a treasury brexit hit. We havent seen evidence at the moment and the evidence has been more positive than negative, but the treasury is still thinks we have still to trigger article 50 and still there are negotiations and potential problems ahead. If there are goblins or money in the pot, lets save it up for the future. Where the targets get hit, because thats an issue, they get changed, too. Politicians, if they dont like a target they change it. In the autumn Statement Last year, the government brought down its Deficit Reduction target markedly after the recommend and it looks like it will hit its new, easier targets after the referendum. The new target was nowhere near as tough as the one George Osborne set before the referendum but it shows the Government Finances are in a more positive state than expected. A lot of that is down to the fact that the Brexit Effect has not come to pass and the uk economy is reforming pretty well. Thank you very much and the budget is on march the 8th. The House Of Lords is continuing to debate the brexit bill, the legislation that will allow the government to begin the process of taking the uk at the European Union. Some peers are seeking changes. This morning, there was a warning from the president of the European Commission that position britain will need years to negotiate a Future Trade Deal after brexit and be landed with a very hefty bill from brussels on leaving. Let us go to brussels now and our correspondent there. It is increasingly being talked about, this exit bill, isnt it . But germany it seems is on britainss side at looking ways around it. What is the latest thinking there . As you say, its on the agenda because it is one of the first things that will probably have to be sorted out as soon as terry s ma presses go on the article 50 process. As soon as the Prime Minister. The eu commissioners said the bill will be very salty, or as we would put it, pretty steep. The sign is he will play hardball pretty steep. The sign is he will play hard ball and so pretty steep. The sign is he will play hardball and so will his negotiators and expect britain to stump upfor negotiators and expect britain to stump up for things like pension liabilities. Also the money that britain has already pledged to Infrastructure Projects in places like romania, but which havent yet come on stream. Thank you very much. The headlines Hospital Services in nearly two thirds of england could be cut or scaled back, bbc analysis of local plans shows. A heterosexual couple have lost their Court Of Appeal battled to have a Civil Partnership instead of a marriage in line with same sex couples. For us citizens and an australian pilot had died after their light plane crashed into a Shopping Centre in melbourne in australia. Now the sport. You look forward to this. Arsenal wenger pressed praised Sutton Uniteds fitness and performance. City could never manage and non league team because its too difficult. Arsenal won 2 0 in the cup in the fifth round and theo walcott got on the scoresheet. That was his 100th Goalfor the walcott got on the scoresheet. That was his 100th goal for the club. Arsenal will face lincoln city at home in the quarterfinals. Sutton uniteds Reserve Goalkeeper was caught on Camera Eating up i, meat and potato, in the dugout towards the end of the match. It soon emerged it wasjust the end of the match. It soon emerged it was just a publicity stu nt for emerged it was just a Publicity Stunt for a betting company who offered odds on it actually happening. He confirmed afterwards that some of his friends made money on the bet which would break fa rules. In the last few minutes weve learned the Gambling Commission which covers regulation in the industry has opened an investigation as theyve been concerned recently about novelty bets being offered by bookies. His club, Sutton United, took a bookies. His club, Sutton United, tooka dim bookies. His club, Sutton United, took a dim view of the incident. you knew the roly poly goalkeeper you knew the roly poly goalkeeper you probably wouldnt be very surprised. Hes a top ididnt hes got themselves in the paper again. Its obviously gone to his edinburgh but will bring him down to earth. Worry about mark sampson has made seven changes to his squad for the cup in america next month. Casey stoney is back in the reckoning, named in the squad of 28. England recently lost to norway and true to sweden in two friendlies so they will play the three top ranked teams in the world, the usa, germany and france. They start with a french in pennsylvania in march. There is a 31 strong British Athletics Team announced today. Laura mueller has had a great run of form. She took a second of dame kelly holmess recent result. I will be back with more, pies and or after one oclock news. See you later. Specialist police teams are digging up the gardens of two properties in swindon. One is believed to be the former home of Christopher Halliwell, whos serving a whole Life Sentence for the murders of two women, sian ocallaghan and becky godden. Duncan kennedy is in swindon for us. Why are they digging there . Well, we have not been given specific information but all we know is that it was the former home of Christopher Halley well. An operation is going on behind the black tarpaulin here, about ten feet high and it. Police have erected a couple of white tents and theres the tarpaulin over what looks like an extension. It involves two houses. We hear the sound of what sounds like drilling on concrete so perhaps they are taking up a patio. Police say it involves gardens and garages but not inside their houses. They are doing it with a full cooperation of the current owner, they say, he was not involved in any of this and that the operation could last up to five days. A 39 year old imam has appeared in court taj with terrorist offences. From stoke on trent, he is said to have delivered sermons to his congregation encouraging them to carry out terrorist acts across the city. He denies the charges. What have you heard, dominick . It is quite an unusual case. He is 39 and from the Tunstall Area of the city. He was described as a prominent figure in his local community. And imam who has been preaching at a small institution. He was arrested on the 14th of february, charged late yesterday by detectives from the Counterterrorism Unit in the West Midlands and he faces eight charges which relate to a particular institution. I will be specific. Its a small mosque on the high street in the Tunstall Area of stoke on trent. Theres no suggestions the allegations relate to any other religious institution or mosque in the Tunstall Area of the city. The allegations are that on two occasions, mr hussein encouraged support for the self styled Islamic State group which is banned under Terrorism Legislation and that occurred in june and Terrorism Legislation and that occurred injune and august and involved alleged addresses to meetings at the institution on the high street in tunstall. There were a further six allegations of encouraging terrorism in a more general sense in sermons to congregations at the same institution. He appeared very briefly this morning shortly before noon dressed in a custody ish to tracksuit. He acknowledged supporters in the Public Gallery and his lawyer indicated he would plead not guilty when it comes to child trial. He was remanded in custody to appear at the old bailey in march. We are getting Breaking News from reuters saying that three people been arrested in france on suspicion of wanting to fight in syria or planning an attack on french soil. That is all we have at the moment. Three arrested in france on suspicion of wanting to leave to fight in syria or planning an attack on french soil. Todays other developing stories the shortage of teachers in schools in england is getting worse and affects key subjects like physics and maths according to a report by mps. And maths according to a report by mp5. The Committee Says Recruitment Targets have been missed for five yea rs targets have been missed for five years ina targets have been missed for five years in a row and was there should be more focused on Keeping Teachers in the profession and long term. Be more focused on Keeping Teachers in the profession and longterm. We have to get across how important teachers are two are as society and economy. They need to be valued and trusted. In northern ireland, the widow of this is the solicitor has lost the challenge against a Government S Refusal for an enquiry. Geraldine philip and appealed against a judicial ruling in 2015 that of decision taken by the then Prime Minister in 2011 was lawful. The Court Of Appealjudges in belfast rejected the challenge today. He represented another of Hype Profile Republicans and was shot dead in front of his wife and their three children in North Belfast in favour in 1989. Buddhism barcelona say a man driving a truck with Betaine Tanks against the traffic on a highway. This banish national tv is said the truck rammed several cars before local police fired shots to stop it. Police have declined to confirm gunshots were fired but say the driver is being questioned. A british man is to be convicted of Group Assault resulting in the death of an Indonesian Police officer. Prosecutors are calling for david taylor to be convicted of Group Assault pleasing leading to the death of an officer on a beach in bali last year. He performs as a dj and admits hitting the Police Officer with binoculars and a beer bottle. David cassidy has revealed he is suffering from dementia. He is 66 and rose to fame in the tv series the Partridge Family before performing a string of hits in the 19705. For a full summary, you can go to our website. A day after declaring a famine in south sudan, the un has warned that other countries could see similar cri5e5. 100,000 people are facing starvation a5 a result of the civil war there. The United Nations 5ay5 almost 1. 5 million children are at ri5k almost 1. 5 million children are at risk of dying of starvation. In this Childrens Hospital in the countrys capital, theres acute malnutrition. This girl gets one or maybe two meals a day. Her mother cant afford to feed her. Upcountry, where the fighting goes on, even more people are affected. In unity state, the rebel stronghold, 100,000 people are now in the grip of famine. A further million in the country are on the brink. Some aid has been delivered, but not enough is getting through. People are dying of starvation every day. Three years of civil war have taken their toll. The real tragedy is that this is largely man made. We do have famine and Food Insecurity has worsened in many parts of this country, largely because of this u nfortu nate conflict. And this is part of a bigger picture. The un is warning three more countries somalia, nigeria and yemen are at risk of famine. In south sudan, over 3 million have been forced from their homes. 1. 5 million have fled to neighbouring countries, like these people arriving in uganda, creating one of the worst Refugee Crises in the world. As these mothers and children wait for help, the un warns urgent action is needed or the situation will only get worse. In australia, five people have died after a small plane crashed into a Shopping Centre in melbourne. The Shopping Centre wasnt open and no one on the ground is thought to have been hurt. Our sydney correspondent, hywel griffith, reports. Just metres from the runway, a site strewn with charged metal. Charred metal. Inside the wreckage of the plane which came swooping from the sky. Eyewitnesses describe seeing flames ri5e after it crashed into the dfo Shopping Centre which was due to open its doors one hour later. We understand there was potentially catastrophic Engine Failure but we are unsure at this stage. It crashed into the back of the dfo Shopping Centre. It took more than a dozen fire crews to extinguish the flames. The aircraft would have been full of fuel. Drivers on the nearby freeway reported feeling the heat as it burned. The crash has left many shocked. Its a desperately sad day for our state. A number of people have died as a result of what is the worst Civil Aviation accident that our state has seen for some 30 years. All flights out of Essendon Airport have been supended as teams on the ground tried to establish exactly what went wrong. Hello. Extreme weather will arrive on thursday. Moron that in a moment. It turns increasingly wet and windy to far north and wet. Fairly light and patchy rain further to the west. A5 and patchy rain further to the west. As we move into wednesday, the Weather Front will be slicing the country into. Anywhere south will be breezy, dull and bank. To the north, extreme gales or severe gales to the north of scotland. Sunny but colder and showers will turn wintry on high ground. As we move out of wednesday and into thursday, storm doris and appears. The deep area of low pressure m oves appears. The deep area of low pressure moves across the country to the southern flank we are likely to seize severe gales and destructive winds. Weather warnings have been i55ued. It stays mild but very windy indeed. Cold with the potential for disruptive style across central and southern scotland. Wrap disruptive snow. This is bbc newsroom live. The headlines at 12. 30pm. Analysis for the bbc has revealed that nearly two thirds of local plans to reform nhs services in england involve closures or downgraded hospital facilities. The government says patients will receive better care in the community. A heterosexual couple have lost their appeal for the right to enter into a Civil Partnership. London couple Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan claim its unfair that only same sex couples are given an alternative to marriage. Chancellor Phillip Hammond says hes listening to concerns about a Business Rate Revaluation in england and wales. More than a quarter of companies are facing higher bills as rates are updated for the first time in seven years. Five people have been killed in the australian City Of Melbourne after a plane suffered Engine Failure and crashed into a Shopping Centre. No one on the ground is thought to have been injured. We speak to our reporter jane dreaper about a Childrens Hospital that has been praised for turning itself around. Lets bring you some pictures we are getting of what has been happening in barcelona. A truck which was carrying Butane Gas Cylinders driving the wrong way down a road in barcelona was stopped by police. Reportedly shots were fired to stop the truck although that is not actually confirmed. But these are the pictures we are getting. No indication at the moment of whether this was an attempted attack or whether it was a robbery because of the truck had been stolen. But it was loaded with Butane Gas Bottles and it was driving the wrong way down a road in barcelona. Police are saying that the driver was swedish. The driver has been arrested and i5 now being questioned. One local woman said the driver ignored people screaming at him to stop and eventually it seems the truck was stopped when shots were fired at it. Lots of you getting in touch with us on our top story that some areas of england will see Hospital Services cut or moved under plans to save money and improve efficiency. With me to answer some of your questions i5 chris ham. Before we go into the question is, overview is that it is the right direction but you have concerns about the financing. We have heard a lot about the problems facing the nhs over the last few weeks so these plans being discussed today could be part of the solution if we are able to strengthen the Community Services, the district nurses, the gps, the social care staff, so there are alternatives in place. People dont have to go to hospital, they can be careful in their own home or closer to home. We welcome this but there needs to be that investment in the community. The first question i have got for you, christopher says, the first question i have got for you, christophersays, how will the proposals work when care in their community is nonexistent . It isnt nonexistent, we have lots of resources. Nonexistent, we have lots of resources. Thousands of staff are delivering health and social care in the community. We need to use them better. In many parts of the country there is a lot of duplication around what different nursing teams do so there is scope for improving how that works, but we would argue social care is being stretched beyond its limits at the moment so investing in more social care in the community is the really high priority. Otherwise people at home will increasingly default to a e. They will be admitted to hospital. That is bad for them when they could be careful and are being cared for in some places much more in their own homes. And that is what is happening, people stuck in hospital even after they are well enough to leave because there is nowhere for them to go. And the prospects are bleak because only yesterday the government announced its settlement for local government funding and all parties are saying this is very bad news because there is no prospect of more funding for social care to provide that important day in the community that your question is referring to. Without that, hospitals will have another difficult winter in the years ahead and that is bad news for patients. Bit of a cash surplus in terms of tax receipts injanuary so there may be money to spend on it. A e closures in rural areas mean patients take more than an hour to reach hospital. How will these proposals affect us . Every area needs to have an a e service but they dont all have to be all singing, all dancing a e services. We need to concentrate major trauma for blue ambulances following, say, a road traffic accident, in a smaller number of hospitals. Patients who are seriously ill then get the best possible quality of ca re get the best possible quality of care 24 7. We then need good access to local services. Not the full range of a e but the minor Injury 5ervice5 range of a e but the Minor Injury Services or the hospital is able to treat people with conditions that dont require that full range in the specialist Trauma Centres so access in rural areas must be maintained but for those patients who can be best treated in local hospitals. Do you have any concerns around that . With a e, with maternity, it is long overdue that we look hard at what local hospitals can provide and which services will deliver Better Outcomes if we concentrate them in a smaller number of hospitals. We bring together the surgeons, the anaesthetist, the Intensive Care specialists who can provide doubtful for those who once a patient has been stabilised in a e. Sadly we cant do that in every hospital around the country. Reg has e mailed, with a five Year Programme being planned for the nhs, it is proposed at this stage, and considering that we will be out of the European Union in two years time, is it appropriate to ask whether the billions of pounds promised for the nhs when we reduce payments to the European Union will be factored into the future budget . This is for the government to decide and they have been very clear over the past few months in the face of huge pressures that the Spending Plans will not be changed. They will be no increase over and above what i5 be no increase over and above what is already committed. So the nhs budget is rising but its not rising fast enough. The demand for care is outstripping the increase in resources. Outstripping the increase in resources. So we end up with what the bbc has been reporting, overcrowding any overcrowded a e departments, and a lack of ability to get patients home. A high priority should be social care and people in the nhs will agree with that and the nhs also need some additional resource but this is a political decision based on the state of the economy and what the government feels it is able to do. The good news today, with the receipts from january from the tax suggests we may be turning a corner andi suggests we may be turning a corner and i hope the government will look at the figures and say health and social care deserves some additional money over and above what has been committed. We had those figures yesterday that estimate nhs trusts are on course to be £1 billion in the red by the end of the year. That i5 the red by the end of the year. That is the difficulty because with the extra money that has been put in, It I5 Extra Money that has been put in, it is paying off hospitals deficits. It was not intended for that purpose. The aim was to put the money into the new services in the community we have been talking about. There is precious little left over for that purpose, which is a concern, because we are not going to change the way hospitals work without first of all investing more in the Community Services. And what sort of figure would be required . Services. And what sort of figure would be required . We would need at least £1 billion for social care and probably more than that. That is what local government leaders are saying. And this is a cross party argument. Social care must be a higher priority and that requires additionalfunding. Higher priority and that requires additional funding. An anonymous e mail, integrated care, surely this i5 e mail, integrated care, surely this is what the Health And Social Care Act was all about, wasnt it . The shortage of stash staff is mainly down to a lack of funding by successive governments and not necessarily the current one. Successive governments should have given higher priority to health and social care. We have to look at them both together. But the problem is we have boom and bust. There was boom when the Labour Government put a lot more resource in. Since then, the coalition, the conservatives have really tightened control of spending. We are into a bust period. That is why the pressures are peering. So absolutely, we need to provide sustainable funding. And on this specific point, integrated care around the needs of frail, older patients and people with complex needs, absolutely. We have been arguing for that for many years. happens in scotland already. What is the evidence they on whether that is giving a Better Service . The evidence from scotland and many other countries, including across england with the Vanguard Programme in places like northumbria and sa lfo rd , in places like northumbria and salford, delivering better care for the population. Its not going to be a way of saving shed loads of money. It is the right thing to do because ca re it is the right thing to do because care needs to bejoined up rather than fragmented. It will deliver better experiences for patients, help them to remain in their own homes, connect the gps with the specialists and all of that is absolutely the direction we should be going in but it is not the pa na cea be going in but it is not the panacea when it comes to filling the financial gap that we see in health and social care. Someone who works ata gp and social care. Someone who works at a Gp Surgery In Sheffield has text it to say, we have around a hundred mi55ed appointments every month. This equates to a full gb clinic every week. If you look at this across the uk it is a massive amount. Should we start charging for mi55ed appointments . Amount. Should we start charging for missed appointments . amount. Should we start charging for missed appointments . I dont have the numbers in my head but i would expect that to be pretty typical. Patients make an appointment when they have a real need and there is perhaps their condition resolves itself and they no longer need to go to the gp. Perhaps that is welcome in some cases, they are freeing up gp time. Gps are on a real treadmill at the moment, seeing lots of patience for short appointments. Sometimes it can be a relief when there is a missed appointment because it gives them some breathing space. No, we should not charge patients for missed appointments. There will always be that element in the gp schedule and to charge patients would be too penalised many people who are least able to pay the charge, even though i can see the logic behind the question. There are simple ways to get around it. You get a text often saying, are you still going to make your appointment . Do you get a good response to those . I get a message like that from my dentist. If i dont want to go or rape cant go any more, i replied. If we can do it for our car, why cant we do it for ourgp . For our car, why cant we do it for our gp . David has detected, we need fewer administrators and more doctors and nurses. What is the proportion . There are very few managers and administrators in the nhs compared with almost any other Health Care System around the world. Thats interesting. We are probably over administered but we are under managed in the nhs. We are talking about a £120 billion a year business. You need skilled managers able to support the clinicians and doctors and nurses to do theirjobs to the best of their abilities. If anything, in many places, the nhs is under managed if we are trying to bring about these changes in how ca re bring about these changes in how care is delivered to patients. So what priority would you give to that over doctors and nurses because obviously it is a very appealing point to make to say that we need more doctors and nurses because they are the people on the front line we see are the people on the front line we 5ee delivering care. Are the people on the front line we see delivering care. The First Priority is to get more doctors and nurses to be involved in leadership roles, which is increasingly the case. If youve got the Clinical Experience and youve been trained in your managerial skills, that is a powerful combination. Thats exactly what we need. Just one final one, which is very interesting. Were talking about Business Rates today and the impact on local businesses who are going to be having big increases. Some around 400 . Roger in cheltenham says, why are hospitals and gp practices charged Business Rates when they are not running a business . The money should be used for the nhs. This could have an impact as well. It will have an impactandi an impact as well. It will have an impact and i dont know the detail around it. This is above my pay grade. This is for the treasury and people who deal with local taxation. But the nhs will take a hit from this decision. What could be going to patient care will be going to local government. They would say they need them any more than nhs because their funding has they need them any more than nhs because theirfunding has been they need them any more than nhs because their funding has been even more constrained. Its great to have you with us. Thank you very much. And thank you for all of your questions as well. Analysis for the bbc has revealed that nearly two thirds of local plans to reform nhs services in england involve closures or downgraded hospital facilities. A heterosexual couple have lost their appeal for the right to enter into a Civil Partnership. Five people have been killed in the australian City Of Melbourne after a plane suffered Engine Failure and crashed into a Shopping Centre. A former House Of Lords speaker has claimed that many peers contribute absolutely nothing to parliament, despite claiming their £300 daily allowance. A House Of Lords spokesman said the chamber was active and effective and peers could be suspended if they claimed allowances without doing any work. The former lords speaker baroness dsouza made the comments in a bbc interview for a documentary about Life In The House. The three part film is to be shown on bbc two. There is a core of peers who work incredibly hard to do that work and there are, im sad to say, many, many peers who contribute absolutely nothing but who claim the full allowance. I can remember one occasion when i was leaving the house quite late and there was a peer who shall be utterly nameless who jumped out of a taxi just outside the entrance and left the engine running. He ran in, presumably to show hed attended, and ran out again while the taxi was still running. The Deputy Speaker of the House Of Lords, lord mcfall, said any members who abuse the code of conduct should be reported to the commissioner for standards. What surprises me is, as the lords speaker at the time, she did not take the opportunity to defer it to the right place, namely the independent commissioner. The independent commissioner has investigated a number of complaints over the years. Only last year she investigated a complaint by a lord who was suspended until the end of that session. The Specialist Hospital has been praised for turning its fortunes around. Birmingham Childrens Hospital was criticised for having insufficient beds. Our Health Correspondent jane dreaper has been visiting one of the wards. Its really busy year now on what ten at birmingham Childrens Hospital. This is a Neurosurgical Ward and some young patients might travel here from All Over The Uk for highly specialised operations to help children who have epilepsy, for example. The hospital very much becomes home for the parents who might be here for weeks, sometimes months on end. One of those such pa rents months on end. One of those such parents is ru55 spencer, who is here with his four year old son. Ollie has had a brain tumour so he has had a lot of operations and a really tough time. How is he doing now . Hes doing really well now. We get a little bit more interaction each day, whether it is a smile or him playing with a ball. We have certainly progressed along way. And the staff here made quite a fuss of him when he turned four last week. Ye5, him when he turned four last week. Yes, because hes been in 12 months, they threw him a little party, had a small collection for him and bought him afew small collection for him and bought him a few presents. What did that mean to you as a parent . Because it i5a mean to you as a parent . Because it is a very hard time. It is a very ha rd is a very hard time. It is a very hard time and it made today more normalfor him. It hard time and it made today more normal for him. It was a very good day. Thats lovely to hear, and when you spend some time here, you realise how vital that work in supporting family is to a specialist Childrens Hospital. Eight years ago this hospital was having problems. It was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. It did not have enough trained staff, bed shortages, and part of this transformation, the woman who has helped that, is sarah jane marsh, who runs the hospital. Tell me what youve done that really has made the difference. Everybody at birmingham Childrens Hospital is so thrilled to be given this outstanding rating. The thing thats really made the difference is putting our children, young people and families at the heart of everything we do, listening to everything we do, listening to everything they want and believing in our staff. They have the answers to the questions all along. It is them that has delivered this. to the questions all along. It is them that has delivered this. It is a huge achievement. Congratulations. Im sure lots of parts of the nhs will want to come to birmingham to learn the lessons of what they have done so well to get this outstanding rating. Its not perfect. There are couple of areas of improvement. The inspectors will return to look at the neonatal 5ervice5 inspectors will return to look at the Neonatal Services and some aspects of Mental Health but for the moment staff in birmingham and patients and their families are feeling a well earned sense pride. A team of british soldiers is hoping to become the first all female group to cross antarctica unsupported. During the three month expedition theyll face temperatures of minus 40 degrees as they walk for up to nine hours a day. Our reporter phil mackie joined them in norway, where theyre training for their 80 day challenge. The Ice Maiden Team is heading out across a frozen Norwegian Lake at the start of its final training exercise. In september, these soldiers will begin an historicjourney, hoping they will now succeed and inspire a generation of women. It is notjust about five women crossing the antarctic, it is about encouraging women everywhere to get out there and realise there is no ceiling and you can achieve anything. I think we can inspire someone to get out there and be physically active. It doesnt have to be the antarctic. Their 5k can be their version of antarctica. Their home will be a small tent. It will be a bedroom, living room, and kitchen, for the next 80 days. Hi, mum. Hi, dad. They are a doctor, a former teacher, and electrical technician who are on the team. I am just a normal person from newcastle and i have just come across an incredible opportunity. If you can work for it you canjust do it. They will leave their families and partners behind to spend nearly three months together on the ice. There is Important Research being done as well. No one really knows what it would take to support and sustain an all female team on a journey like this. It is about the composition of the rations, carbohydrates, protein, and trying to figure out how we can manipulate that, i suppose. And also for a group of women whose nutritional needs are different to men, there has been very little Research Done and certainly not published. We have little to go on. There are other more personal considerations, especially when they need to answer the call of nature. We have pee funnels, and that is straightforward. We can squat behind a little wall without trousers down and do our business into a bag. We have tissues to deal with. Then you can drag that rubbish for the rest of the journey. One of the hardest things will be maintaining morale as each hard day of marching goes by. They have just been for a two hour march. They will have to do nine hours a day in the antarctic, carrying everything they need along with them. It will be very, very tough, which is why they need to practise in conditions as harsh as these. There are seven ice maidens. Two will be reserves, as only five can cross the antarctic, where they hope to break the ice ceiling, putting them alongside explorers like scott and others. Ina in a moment we will have the news at 1pm. First the weather. This week we are likely to see the two faces of february. There will be a spell of wet and windy weather and maybe winter returns with the potential of some disruptive snow. But for the rest of the afternoon, it is increasingly wet and windy to the north west. The rain fairly light and patchy further south but it still smiled. Temperatures around 14 degrees. Stays mild. Perhaps staying largely dry across the far north east of scotland. But the rain will arrive here. In fact, that wet and windy weather will continue to push its way steadily south. Severe gales developing behind a Weather Front which will slice the country into as we go through the night. To the south of that, it stays increasingly cloudy and mild. To the north, called a digging in so some of those showers will turn wintry. Very windy start in the far north of scotla nd very windy start in the far north of scotland with severe gales potentially here. At the same time, there will be a slice of sunshine. Our Weather Front meanders its way slowly south. It is going to be a dull afternoon for england and were. Still those temperatures above average for the time of year. Somewhat colder but sony to the north with a scattering of showers and again turning increasingly wintry. If you thought it has been windy so far, think again. An amber weather warning has been issued for thursday. Be prepared for some disruption due to the strength of the wind. We have got our fourth named storm of the season, storm doris. The strongest of the winds are going to be to the southern flank of that noble as it clears through across Northern England and the midlands. But behind it, colder air kicks kick so snow could be an i55ue air kicks kick so snow could be an issue as well. It stays mild across england and will but the wind are going to be an issue. To the north it is going to be a cold day. And it i5 it is going to be a cold day. And it is thursday morning across the north pennines and southern scotland that we could cease and significant snow even at lower levels. Some Hospital Services could be cut or scaled back in nearly two thirds of england. Some hospitals could close, or have treatments moved to other sites, in an effort to save money and improve efficiency. Well have the latest on the proposals. Also this lunchtime. A heterosexual couple loses the latest round in a legal fight to have a Civil Partnership, thoughjudges agreed the situation is discriminatory. The shortage of maths and science teachers in englands schools is getting worse, according to a report by mp5. Better news about government borrowing. The treasury records its biggest january surplus for 17 years. And the ice maidens cometh. Seven british soldiers make their final preparations to cross antarctica, unassisted. And coming up in the sport on bbc news