19/11/2013 BBC News at Six

Far-reaching changes to the NHS in England in what the Government is

calling a profound transformation in the health service. Hospitals will

have to publish the number of nurses on a ward and will have a legal duty

to be truthful when things go wrong. The NHS has listened. The NHS has

learned. The NHS will not rest until it's delivering the safest, most

effective and most compassionate care anywhere in the world. The

measures follow the scandal at Mid Staffordshire health trust,

campaigners say they still don't go far enough. The Chairman of the

Co-op Bank resigns over the scandal of the former Chairman's drug

taking. At least 18 people are killed as a sigh lone hits sardine

ya causing widespread flooding. Chaotic scenes after Toronto's

controversial drug taking Mayor is stripped of his powers, but refuses

to go quietly. The parrot may be deceased Beaumonty python is making

a come back. Coming up in the sport: international football with England

playing Germany. Good evening. Welcome to the BBC's

news at 6.00pm. Hospitals in England will have to publish monthly

information about staffing levels and will have a legal duty to be

open and honest when they make mistakes. They are two of a waft of

measures being introduced by the Health Secretary who says the NHS

needs to undergo a profound transformation. It follows a report

into the appalling care of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust. The vast

majority of the report's recommendations are being

implemented. Some health campaigners say the new proposals don't go far

enough. Work experience on the front-line of the NHS for the Health

Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, giving him an insight into what it's like to be

at the sharp end of the health service. It's part of his own

response to the Francis Report which exposed an appalling collapse of

care at Stafford Hospital. He told MPs the Government wants a more

open, safe and accountable NHS. I do not simply want to prevent another

Mid Staffs. I want our NHS to be a beacon across the world, not just

for its equity, but its excellence. Mr Speaker, today's measures are a

blueprint for restoring trust in the NHS reinforcing professional pride

in NHS frontline staff and giving confidence to patients that after

Mid Staffs the NHS has listened. The NHS has learned. While broadly

welcoming the Government's response, Labour focussed on what it said was

shortages among frontline staff. Isn't it the case that nurse patient

ratios across the NHS have got significantly worse in the last

three years, with 5,890 fewer nurses, older patients in hospital

and bed occupancy running at record levels? The Government outlined a

range of measures designed to prevent a repeat of the Mid Staffs.

For the family of John Moore-Robinson, getting staff to

open up when things go wrong is a priority. He died in 2006 after

staff failed to diagnose a ruptured spleen. His father said this is the

Government's big chance. When things go wrong, the majority of families

want to be told, want the truth, not for everything to be brushed under

the carpet. That causes more grief, more heartache and pain. Let us have

an open and honest culture within the NHS. The impact of the terrible

events that unfoldled here at Stafford Hospital is now being felt

across the health service in England. Achieving the kind of

transformation of culture called for by the Francis Report will be

neither easy nor quick. The signal must go out loud and clear... Care

the NHS has led the fight for a safer health service. Many of

today's announcements were welcomed. They want stronger legal protection,

especially for whistleblowers. We wanted the recommendations in

legislation to ensure that Mid Staffs never happened again. So that

we could guarantee that people wouldn't suffer the way that our

loved ones did. Ministers say measures such as forcing hospitals

to publish staffing levels for every shift on every ward will encourage

the change in culture that the Francis Report calls for. They

believe there are signs that change is already underway. Is James

Landale is at Westminster. The test of these reforms will be whether

they make a real difference to patients, will they? Well, the

politicians certainly hope so. They tell me they don't under estimate

the scale of the challenge. They know they are trying to change an

entire culture within the NHS. One Cabinet Minister told me it will be

like moving an oil tanker around, it will take time. What they hope will

drive that change is not just the new rules, the new incentives. They

hope that NHS Trusts will be competitive, at and not want to be

at the bottom of these new staffing level league tables. They hope that

these new rules, which means hospitals could potentially lose

their endem nitty for negligence claims could concentrate minds

within NHS Trust Boards. There has been a fair wind given to these

proposals. In the House of Commons normal dwri Bates on health are par

San affairs. Today the debate was much more measured. As if the MPs on

all sides felt it was too toxic, too important an issue to be too

political about it. Ultimately, the interesting thing is that it has

changed the debate. Debate in the last few years in the NHS has been

about funding and all about strbg tours. Today, it's about the simple

issue of how best to keep patients safe. Thank you. The Chairm ftof the

Co-op Group, Len Wardle, has resigned as the scandal surrounding

the former Chairman of the Co-op Bank shows no sign of abating. Mr

Wardle led the Board that appointed Paul Flowers in 2010 and said it was

time for a real change in the way the group is managed. Mr Flowers, a

Methodist minister, was filmed allegedly trying to buy cocaine

after illegal drugs. He resigned from the council two years ago after

inappropriate content was found on his lap tap. The Co-op's orgins goes

back to 18 44. The Co-op Bank dated back to 1872. The modern Co-op was

formed by a series of mergers in 2 0 and the marriage of 2009. The

Methodist minister, who until recently chaired Co-op, filmed

apparently trying to buy hard drugs. And, that merger with Britannia

Building Society, a terrible mess. Huge losses as loans have gone bad.

The bank, on the brink of going bust, and needing to be rescued. A

prouder moment earlier this month for Len Wardle, Co-op Group Chairman

who took responsibility for appointing Paul Flowers. Today he

quit. You have been thrust into the hotseat, chairing the co-operative

Group. Is this, in your view, the worst crisis in the history of the

movement. They were built from strife and struggle. I don't under

estimate the difficulties we have. I believe we are well suited to these

sort of battles. Paul Flowers idea of a good time, according to a male

escort, interviewed by the Sun newspaper, included drugs and romps

with rent boys? How did you feel personally when you discovered that

Paul Flowers was using his personal email to arrange sex and drugs

partners, his k Co-op email? It's shocking to everybody. It's not

something I can comment on. It's out of our hands. It is being dealt with

thoroughly. There was more embarrassment for Paul Flowers as

Bradford Council explained why he resigned as a Labour councillor:

It's like a halo brand. If you fall from grace, you can fall quite far.

Perhaps harder for k Co-op Group will be to put behind it is the

disaster of Co-op which suggests it's not unethical, just not very

good at business. At least 18 people have been killed after a you

pokerful cyclone hit the Italian island of Sardinia. Almost as much

rain fell on the island in 90 minutes as falls across the south of

England in a year. Local officials say many of the fatalities occurred

when vehicles and bridges were swept away by floodwaters. The Italian

government has declared a state of emergency. They have seen nothing

like it in decades. It was, said one official, apocalyptic. Cyclone

Cleopatra poured almost half a meter of water down on this island in one

day. It's what they expect here in six months.

TRANSLATION: It's the second time. First we had the fire. Now, it's

water. Look at this mess. We followed some officials down one

blocked road as the rain started to fall again. Not what they need.

Round a corner this is what the cyclone had done. A wall of water

swept down this valley, picking up trees and debris and depositing them

on top of the bridge having ripped away the tarmac from the surface

there. There is another bridge there, the water swept right over

the top. The people here say it must have been eight or nine meters high.

Thousands have been evacuated from their homes with search and rescue

teams still trying to reach all the affected areas. A family of four

drowned as the water flood their home. Three died when a car was

crashed under a bridge. A mother and daughter was killed as their vehicle

was swept away. There are roadblocks which makes the emergency response

even more difficult. There is a crater down the road, this fireman

told us, we are still expecting more bad weather. The road could collapse

at any time. The government held an emergency meeting this morning.

Setting aside 20 million euros to help pay for the temporary housing

and rebuilding that is urgently needed. Two bombs have exploded

outside the Iranian embassy in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, killing at

least 22 people. 150 a been injured after the double suicide bombings in

the Shia southern part of the city. A Sunni jihadist group said it was

responsible for the attack. A Spanish Ambassador has been summoned

to the Foreign Office after reports that a Spanish research ship had

entered British gee bral tan waters in what's been described as a

"provocative incursion". A radio exchange between the Royal Navy and

the vessel yesterday was captured by a radio scanner. This clip begins

with the Royal Navy. You are to ce Seb your current

actions and leave British waters immediately. -- cease. European

Community interests. We will continue with our works. We have got

all the necessary permits trying to perform such work. Thank you very

much. Police officers are routinely falsifying crime statistics in order

to improve their forces' performance figures, according to evidence given

to MPs today. A police whistleblowe claims serious offences including

rape and sexual abuse can be downgraded with victims pressurised

into dropping or reducing charges. As a result the offences have been

under-rerecord by as much as a quarter. The Metropolitan Police

insists crimes are recorded correctly. Reducing crime has long

been seen as the badge of a successful police force. Today MPs

heard allegations that police routinely fiddle crime figures to

make their force look better. The same offences... PC James Patrick

said the Metropolitan Police knew that that has many as 300 burglaries

were disappearing from the records of one borough over a couple of

weeks. So things were being reported as burglaries. You run the same

report there had been a management intervention the burglaries had

disappeared in a puff of smoke. The officer had a specialist role

examining how crime was measured at the Met. He told MPs that he found

730% of cases recorded as less serious crime-related incidents were

in fact crimes. He said his findings showed the Met had been under

recorded -- 22% to 25%. This would finish up with trying to persuade a

victim they weren't raped, for example? Effectively, yeah. You are

nodding at this? Yes. Not in the nodding sense that was spoken

earlier. This is my experience as well. You can see that in the

investigation that is have been carried out the victims are being

pressurised. The committee was told about the techniques officers

allegedly use to massage crime figures. One dubbed "cuffing" was

when officers decided not to believe a complainant. Other tech niece were

scald stitching and nodding and swewing in which police altered

figures in collude with offenders. The ethical reporting of crime is

essential if we are to bring offenders to justice and reduce

crime in London. Has been welcomed by support groups who say those who

experienced crime must feel confident it will be taken

seriously. Our top story this evening:

Hospitals must publish staffing levels on wards as the government

calls for a profound transformation of the NHS in England. Still to

come: Join me at Wembley, where England hope to avoid back-to-back

defeats against their old foe, Germany.

In Sportsday, Kevin Pietersen says he wants to lay for his country for

a further two years at least as he prepares for what will be his 100th

test in tomorrow's Ashes opener against Australia in Brisbane.

Scotland's First Minister has suggested cutting corporation tax in

an independent Scotland would boost the economy and create jobs. Alex

Salmond has been setting up the economic policy choices available if

voters say yes to independence in next year's referendum. Opponents

insist an independent Scotland would have to raise taxes or cut spending.

Could Scotland build a better future outside the UK? Campaign is for

independence think so. They came to Dundee today to woo workers and

bosses alike with the promise of a tax system that would boost business

and create jobs boom. There is an optimum level of taxation for an

independent Scotland. It is not what we get from Westminster. We will set

out a menu of options that say, if the SNP were elected and trusted

with governing Scotland, that is how we would do things. One dish on the

menu for Scotland's future could be a cut incorporation tax of 3%. The

Scottish Government says that would increase economic output by 1.4% and

created 27,000 new jobs. Companies in Dundee are listening, but they

want much more detail. Businesses are also interested in business

rates, VAT, income tax, as employers. What we are looking for

answers on a whole range of taxation measures. We appreciate that

corporation tax is one factor in that. Businesses over the border in

England also want answers. At this ice cream firm in Newcastle, they

are worried about lower Scottish taxes. We have got to be matched by

the British government. We have to match it. Otherwise it just creates

a disparity that is going to cause problems long-term, without a doubt.

But will it happen? North Sea oil props up the Scottish economy, say

opponents of independence, who warn of tax rises, not cuts, when it runs

dry. Yesterday, the Institute for Fiscal Studies, one of the most

respected bodies in this area, said an independent Scotland would face a

situation where either taxes have to go out or public spending has to go

down. That raises serious questions for the Scottish Government. Today,

we needed to hear them answered and they failed to do so. Slowly, the

competing visions of Scotland's future are beginning to take shape.

People undoubtedly want more answers. But they also know that not

every question can be answered. A vote either for independence or for

the union is, to a certain extent, a leap of faith.

There have been chaotic scenes in Toronto, where the Canadian city's

controversial Mayor is refusing to resign, despite admitting smoking

crack cocaine and drinking heavily. Rob Ford, also facing allegations of

sexually harassing staff and associating with prostitutes, was

stripped of most of his powers at the City Council. As a response, he

vowed outright war and knocked over a female counsellor.

Meet Rob Ford, the larger-than-life mayor of a distinctly self-effacing

city. Elected three years ago on a promise to cut taxes, as well as

public spending, depending on who you talk to he is either a maverick

man of the people or the political equivalent of Fred Flintstone. As of

two weeks ago, a man fighting for his political survival. Yes, I have

smoked crack cocaine. Do I? Am I an addict? No. Have I tried it?

Probably in one of my drunken stupor is, approximately one year ago. By

this time a profanity laced video of him threatening to kill someone had

appeared on the internet, people here had had enough. Last night, the

City Council voted to strip him of most of his powers, but not before

the Mayor had lampooned a fellow councillor for drink-driving and

almost sent a female colleague flying as he made a bolt for the

public gallery. Speaking on NBC's Today Show, he promised his

behaviour will change. All I can say is that actions speak louder than

words. I invite you to come back, give me five or six months. If

people see a difference, if they don't, I will lead my words. His

approval ratings have slumped and there is the prospect of further

scandals that may be to come. Nonetheless, there are some here

that leave he is big box office. I am not proud of what I've done... A

few hours after he was stripped of his powers, he debuted on his own

weekly cable TV show. The channel producers believe he is just what

they need to boost the ratings. Rob Ford says he will run for

re-election next year, and one day would like to be Prime Minister of

Canada. Football, both England and Scotland

are in action tonight. England take on Germany in a friendly at Wembley,

and Scotland's game against Norway is underway already. Natalie? As you

say, Scotland have kicked off against Norway. Tonight, England

face Germany in the penultimate match before Roy Hodgson has to name

his preliminary squad. Joe Hart is back in goal. That will be the first

time he has played in three weeks, since he was dropped to the bench by

his club manager, Manuel Pellegrini. Adam Lallana and Wayne Rooney are

the only players to keep their place from Friday. Steven Gerrard will be

back to captain England tonight. He will match Bobby Moore's record of

108 caps. Yesterday, he insisted this England side is much better

than the ones that were mauled 4-1 at hands of Germany and South Africa

in 2010. The 80,000 plus England fans coming here tonight will be

hoping he is right. Germany are making a lot of changes to their

side and self, but they are ranked second in the world and they are one

of the rightful favourites to win the tournament next year. Away from

here, there are some major matches taking place. World Cup play-offs

tonight, to see who will be joining England in Brazil. Sweden or

Portugal will not be making it. All eyes will be on Paris to see if

France can overturn a 2-0 deficit against Ukraine. Ten o'clock

tonight, we will know which stars will be on or off the flights to

Brazil. This world-famous comedy Circus is

not dead, just resting. 50 years after they last appeared on stage

together, the Monty Python team are reuniting. Messrs Cleese, Gilliam,

Pailin and Idle are getting together for a stage show, revealing where

the Flying Circus will travel next on Thursday.

Hello, Polly. I have a nice cuttlefish for you. It moved! It was

long thought that they were an ex-comedy team, an ensemble that had

ceased to be. Until today. This brief chat, with Terry Jones. That

is what I call a dead parrot! Its stand... We are getting together and

putting on a show. I'm quite excited about it. I hope it makes us a lot

of money. I hope I will be able to pay off my mortgage.

It has been more than 30 years since the last proper Python project. Even

their old friends are surprised. Barry Cryer worked with them in the

60s and 70s. He was even warm up man for a bit. I had no idea. I spoke to

Michael Pailin the other day and he didn't mention it. He's keeping

something from me. I'm really intrigued, I was around for the

original stage show. If you want to know why this has caused such a

stir, this might help. This is the stage of Spamalot. Eric idle's

musical, which he says is lovingly ripped off from Monty Python and the

Holy Grail. It has been a hit on both sides of the Atlantic, running

for more than seven years. The fans have a sort of fervour about them.

They not only know the jokes, many of them can recite the whole script.

But, 40 years on, can they recapture that magic? I'm slightly surprised.

You know, the idea of John doing silly walks, with two false hips, is

quite amusing. But I'm sure they are going to find a good angle. But

why? Phone, nostalgia, money? John Cleese has had some very expensive

divorces. But, for the fans, it is just and an expected treat. They are

probably already rehearsing the punch lines. Time for a look at the

weather. Lovely to have the sun back, but it

comes at a price. Frost across the country, and after that frosty start

we will see some changes across the night. Wet and windy weather will

eventually arrive, lifting temperatures across parts of

Scotland and Northern Ireland. It's cold across the hills. North of the

A9, we have some snow around. That will continue for a time before

turning back to rain later in the night. To the south, we hold onto

the clear skies for longest. It could get down to -5 in some rural

parts of northern England. With the cloudy wet weather comes a strong

wind. That is what will lift temperatures. But only temporarily.

Across parts of Scotland and northern England there will be

hazards to watch out for. To the south-east, we will see temperatures

left by eight o'clock to about three or five degrees. Even though that is

higher than it was this time this morning, there will be a lot of

cloud in the skies. Outbreaks of patchy rain. A spell of heavy rain,

sleet and hail possible. As that clears away from the East of

England, it could wash away some of the sold on the road. Ice could

form. Slippy conditions possible across the North of England and

eastern parts of Scotland. We could see wind touching 60 or 70 mph.

Generally, a windy day. The wind will be pushing the rain away from

southern areas by the time we get to the end of the afternoon. Most will

see sunshine. Some of them showers are a little bit on the windy side

-- wintry. In eastern areas, plenty of cloud. Some showers around. A

little bit wintry around higher ground. High-pressure in the West,

things turning dry and sunny and that process continues into the

weekend. It does stay cold. Our main story: Hospitals must

publish staffing levels on wards as the government calls for a profound

transformation of the NHS in England. That