16/02/2014 BBC Weekend News

Secretary pledges troops will check all flood defences for damage. I

think that is the important thing for people to remember. This series

of weather events over the last two months has caused some quite serious

damage to our infrastructure. The SNP dismisses claims it might be

impossible for an independent Scotland to join the European Union.

And hopes are riding high on British talent to triumph in tonight's

BAFTAs. Good afternoon. The Defence

Secretary Philip Hammond says the Army will carry out a rapid

inspection of the nation's flood defences to assess the damage left

by the recent flooding. He also defended the Government's handling

of the crisis. It comes as much of England and Wales is in danger of

further flooding, despite a break in the long spell of rain and stormy

weather. Our correspondent Jon Brain is in Chertsey.

Some rare good news from here, it is dry, sunny, and most important the

floodwaters are beginning to recede, flowing out of people 's

homes across that flooded field and back into the River Thames, but of

course despite that, big problems remain here and across much of the

country. A sunny suburban Sunday, but life in

Chertsey is still a long way from normality. The continuing presence

of the military and the emergency services, an indication that this

town is still in the grip of a crisis. For nine days now, Simon

Smith has been pumping out his waterlogged homes. Here's hoping

lessons will have been learned. This flooding has affected so many parts

of the country and become such a big story that I think maybe there will

be some contingency planning in the future. The Government appears to be

listening. This morning the defence secretary announced immediate action

on flood defences. We will use Royal Engineers to do a rapid inspection

of the nation's flood defences. We will do in five weeks what would be

a two-year inspect and to assess the level of damage. This series of

weather events over the last two months has caused some quite serious

damage to our infrastructure. But it is too late for these residents at

Bridgwater in Somerset. Flooded out of their homes and now finding

refuge. Devastated, just devastated. I never thought it would

happen to us. Stress is an understatement but you have to get

things into perspective, make sure you and your wife ROK and move on,

but without this service here we couldn't have done it. Meanwhile the

big flare-up is continuing. This was Hursley in Hampshire this morning,

similar operations are under way across much southern England.

That flood defence inspection Philip Hammond talked about will begin on

the 24th of February, involving 200 soldiers, and it is expected to be

completed in just five weeks when normally it would take two years.

Philip Hammond has been defending the Government's record during this

crisis, he said that soldiers could have been used much earlier. He says

now they have been aggressively pushing them towards the local

councils and we have certainly seen evidence of that here in Chertsey.

Across the bridge dozens of military personnel have joined the emergency

services in an attempt to resolve the situation here. Residents are

concerned about what happens when this story goes out of the

headlines, they are hoping they will not be left to cope with the

problems on their own. So what could be causing the recent

spell of stormy weather in Britain? Well, new research suggests that the

behaviour of fast air currents, known as the jet stream, have become

less predictable in recent years. A study shows that it has slowed down

and is taking a longer, more meandering path, resulting in

weather remaining the same for longer periods. Our science

correspondent Pallab Ghosh reports from Chicago. The storms in Britain

never seem to end, while America has experienced bitterly cold

conditions. Chicago is used to freezing winters, but data taken

from this weather station shows it has been one of the coldest on

record and the same is true across many other parts of the United

States. The big question is whether this can be explained by natural

variability or whether something has gone wrong with our weather. Some

scientists are worried that the recent warming in the Arctic has

shifted the main system that drives weather patterns in northern Europe

and North America, a current of fast flowing air in red and green called

the jet stream. This year it has dipped down lower than usual which

has meant the weather has stayed the same for weeks on end, keeping the

cold weather in America and the storms in Britain. At a science

meeting in Chicago, Jennifer has presented new evidence. I think we

can expect more of the same and I think we should expect it to occur

more frequently, these very wavy patterns in the jet stream causing

weather to be more persistent in one place. I do think that will happen

more often in the future. It is too soon to tell whether this shift in

the jet stream is permanent or if it is a direct result of man-made

climate change, but the new result suggests you may have to get used to

winters where spells of whether go on for weeks or even months. --

spells of weather. The president of the European

Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, has said it would be difficult if not

impossible for an independent Scotland to join the European Union.

In a BBC interview Mr Barroso said that an independent Scotland would

have to apply for EU membership and get the approval of all the member

states. It is a new country and so I believe it is going to be extremely

difficult if not impossible, a new member state coming out of one of

our country is getting the agreement of the others. Having said that, it

is now for the British people and the Scottish people of course in

their referendum to decide about their future. That was Jose Manuel

Barroso. Our correspondent Laura Bicker is outside the Scottish

Parliament - what's the response been this morning? The Scottish

government this morning has described his comments as utterly

preposterous. They say Scotland has been within the EU for the last 40

years and crucially they point out that no member state has come

forward to say it would veto Scotland's membership and that

includes Spain. Spain is facing the constitutional debate of its own

where Catalan separatists are calling for independence, and in

Spain it is causing problems for Kosovo which is trying to obtain EU

membership. Meanwhile in a separate development, the First Minister Alex

Salmond has written to the Prime Minister accusing his ministers of

bullying tactics. He said that behaviour should cease and has urged

David Cameron to distance himself from these kind of constitutional

remarks as this debate ramps up. It's the biggest night in the

British film calendar - with the BAFTA awards ceremony in London. The

film 12 Years A Slave, directed by Steve McQueen, is the favourite to

win Best Film. The actress Helen Mirren will also be honoured at

tonight's ceremony. Lizo Mzimba has the details.

It has been a huge hit with audiences, critics and awards

voters. It has not only earned the most nominations at the crofters, it

is also jointly leading the way at the Oscars. Gravity's producer said

they are honoured by people 's reaction. It is really exciting

right now, it is a really strong year and Gravity being one of the

films is a privilege and very exciting. It might be just behind

Gravity with ten nominations but harrowing drama 12 Years A Slave is

the favourite to win Best Film. I am proud that people are talking about

the film in such a light. All of the hard work done on the film, the fact

we are being talked about as contenders is great, it is an

honour. Its lead, Chiwetel Ejiofor, is also favourite to take home the

Best actor award. In the best actress category, Blue Jasmine's

Cate Blanchett is expected to win. And the Queen 's grandson, the Duke

of Cambridge, will present Dame Helen Mirren with the BAFTA

of Cambridge, will present Dame Fellowship.

You can see more on all of those stories on the BBC News Channel. The

next news on BBC One is at five past six. Goodbye.