17/03/2012 BBC Weekend News

Good evening. Trade unions have reacted with fury to plans by the

Government to end national pay settlements for thousands of civil

servants in England and Wales. The Chancellor, George Osborne, wants

the pay of Jobcentre staff, Border Agency workers and other officials

to reflect private sector wages in the areas where they live. For some,

this could mean their pay is frozen. Our deputy political editor, James

Landale, has the details. Should the public sector worker in

Southampton get the same pay as one in Swansea? For years, the answer

has been yes, but it is about to change. In the Budget next week,

George Osborne will announce that he is speeding up plans to make the

salaries of some civil servants reflect the pay in that area.

odd that as a public servant, you learn a different amount relative

to the cost of living in different parts of the country. This is the

problem - on average, public sector workers in England and Wales get

paid 8% more than comparable staff in the private sector. In Wales,

the gap is more than 18%, but in the south-east of England, it is

just 0.5%. George Osborne believes this makes it harder for public --

private sector companies to hire staff. So, from next month, more

than 150,000 civil servants could start seeing their pay frozen, or

at least rising more slowly. Not surprisingly, public sector unions

are not happy. If you drive down that ability to spend money in the

local economy, there will be not only an effect on the public sector,

but on the private sector as well. Doctors, dentists and the Armed

Forces are not affected, but teachers, nurses and local

government workers could face pay changes next year if the government

decides to phase out national pay bargaining more widely. Labour has

warned of anarchy in the public sector, but the Treasury says the

changes will help boost the economy in areas where firms are struggling.

US officials have named the American soldier accused of killing

16 Afghan civilians nearly a week ago. He's Army Staff Sergeant

Robert Bales, aged 38. He's being held at a maximum security military

prison at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas. Our correspondent David

Willis reports. This is Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales, a veteran of

three tours of duty in Iraq, for which he received numerous

commendations. He has been described by one former commander

as a great soldier. But there was no hint of a hero's welcome when he

arrived back on US soil last night. Fort Leavenworth in Kansas is home

to the US military's only maximum- security prison, and Staff Sergeant

Robert Bales is being held there amid allegations that he shot dead

16 unarmed Afghan civilians and set fire to the bodies. He joined the

Army in 2001, just a week after the September 11th terrorist attacks.

During for redeployments to Iraqi was injured twice, suffering

concussion in a roadside bomb attack, and then losing part of his

foot. He was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury as a result

of the concussion, but was cleared for duty after receiving treatment.

US officials have not denied that he was missing from his base around

the time the massacre took place in Afghanistan. Was this terrible

tragedy the work of a man traumatised by his experiences on

the battlefield? But here at Staff Sergeant Robert Bales's home base,

details have started to emerge, among them, the fact that he had

recently been passed up for promotion, that he did not want to

go to Afghanistan, he wanted to stay and spend time with his family,

and perhaps crucially, that the day before the massacre, in Kandahar

province, one of his colleagues had The Syrian authorities say

terrorists are to blame for two explosions in the capital, Damascus,

which they claim have killed at least 27 people. Almost 100 others

were wounded in the attacks. Syrian state television said intelligence

and police buildings were targeted, possibly by two car bombs.

Government officials in Libya have confirmed that Colonel Gaddafi's

former intelligence chief has been detained in the West African state

of Mauritania. Abdullah Senussi fled Libya when Gaddafi was ousted

and killed last year after an uprising and months of fighting.

He's wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against

The FA Cup quarter-final between Tottenham and Bolton at White Hart

Lane has been abandoned after a player suddenly collapsed. The

Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba was taken ill 40 minutes into the

game. He was given medical treatment on the pitch before being

carried off on a stretcher and taken straight to hospital. There's

In Cardiff, Wales beat France 16-9 in the Six Nations Championship, to

win the Grand Slam. It's the third time they've taken the trophy in

eight seasons. Scotland ended up with the wooden spoon after losing

to Italy. England's campaign finished on a high with victory

over Ireland but the real celebrations were in Cardiff. Andy

Swiss was watching the action at the Millennium Stadium. It already

felt like a victory parade, Wales arriving at the stadium to find the

rest of Wales waiting for them. This young team has captured the

country's imagination, but could they now capture the Grand Slam?

Not if France could help it. Dimitri Yachvili put the French

ahead, but Wales responded in swashbuckling style, as Alex

Cuthbert sent the crowd into euphoria. Back came France after

the break. Remember, they broke Welsh hearts at the World Cup, and

Welsh hearts at the World Cup, and they threatened to do so again.

Wales defended stoutly, but their lead had been cut. Some could

hardly watch. But a nervous penalty from Leigh Halfpenny meant they

could finally start celebrating. Moments later, Wales had done it,

Moments later, Wales had done it, and the Grand Slam party was in

full swing. We have had to show a bit of

toughness, a bit of character. Hopefully it is a real turning

point for Welsh rugby, because these players have showed great

courage in this tournament, found ways to win when under pressure.

This is what it means for these fans, a third Grand Slam in eight