18/01/2017 London News

There are claims tonight that changes to the way the Government

allocates money to schools will severely affect the capital.

London Councils says schools in the capital will be

A report says a new funding formula would mean 70% of schools in London

would face budget cuts. But the government insists that

inner-city schools here will be allocated more money per pupil

than the national average. With more details, here's our

political editor Tim Donovan. In the heart of Hackney,

Urswick Secondary School has been benefiting from funds

which recognise extra needs Money that will now be lost,

says the head here, if the Government reallocate

resources under a new formula. He faces a choice - cut staff or go

for bigger class sizes. Inner London has led the world

in recent times in terms of student outcomes and in terms of busting

that whole issue around deprivation. And we've done that because we've

been given more money You don't remedy issues around

poverty and deprivation without spending money,

and that will be money that in How does the Government

now want it to work? Well, broadly, by spending money

more evenly across the country. But London Councils,

which represents the capital's borough, says that will mean

?20 million less to go round, affecting 1500

of the capital's schools. Taken with the recent warning

from the National Audit Office about other pressures such

as funding not keeping up with inflation, and it'll add up

to a shortfall of ?360 million 70% of London schools

will have to find savings as a consequence of these proposals,

so that's why we're calling on the Government to change,

level up, make sure that no school loses out as a result of the

national funding formula changes. The launch meeting last night

of a new parents' campaign group in Muswell Hill in Haringey,

except they weren't Word has spread quickly to other

parts of London, too. It shows, claims one

of the organisers, We are seeing the effects

in the classroom, and I think this is what's really angering parents,

is the Government is saying education is protected,

education spending is protected, and we as parents are seeing

the effect of the funding squeeze So there's a bit

of a disparity there. But the Government insists

the existing way of funding schools From now on it will be

according to actual needs, But many parents, teachers

and pupils in London may need The Mayor of London has one business

leaders and politicians at the World Economic Forum that hard Brexit as

outlined by the Prime Minister could rid Britain apart. Speaking in

Davos, he talked about the importance of the single market.

Asad Ahmad join me, a key speech for the mayor? He is meeting heads of

banks who operate out of London, European prime ministers, the heads

of global businesses and he said he will be discussing global investment

opportunities in London with them. What is interesting is he has chosen

this to be the time he has so publicly gone head-to-head with

Prime Minister Theresa May. Theresa May yesterday said she wants a all

hard Brexit. Sadiq Khan says it will be bad news for Europe as well as

Britain, it could be a lose lose situation. As well as that, Mrs May

said that Britain could not possibly remain in the European single

market. However, Mr Khan said Britain must have privilege access

to the single market as top priority. Any chance that Theresa

May might just listen to Mr Khan and water down her expectations? No, but

what Mr Khan expected that businesses in London and Europe

might well galvanise, get together and put pressure on the British

Government to water down the way they hope to leave the EU.

This all comes on the same day that two banks concerned some stuff would

move to Europe after Brexit? HSBC at UBS moving around 1000 staff from

London to Europe, most of their staff will remain in London but it

is significant because it is the first time it has happened, other

banks might follow suit all move completely to Europe. Others say

that this week Donald Trump, the president to be in America, has sent

a clear signal that he supports Britain's exit from the EU and is

willing to do a quick deal with Britain. They will welcome that and

say it could bring in more jobs to London to replace jobs lost in the

banking sector. Who knows what'll happen in the future? We have

learned this year. Next, from east China to east London

- the first freight train to travel directly to the UK from China

and arrived in Barking this morning. It's taken a fortnight -

but that's around half As Sarah Harris reports, it could be

a huge boost London businesses. It had made its way through

Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus. 34 containers packed

with high street goods made in a city in eastern China,

heading for Barking, east London. The first direct freight train

service between China and the UK and something London business

leaders have been fighting It brings goods in a much faster

route than across the sea. It's slower still than air freight,

but it's much cheaper than the air freight costs and it's a sign that

China is expanding its networks, trading networks, beyond its borders

in an effective way to connect China's market with

the global economy. And it's the return journey back

to China which will benefit The service is cheaper

than air freight and faster There's a big demand

in China at the moment, particularly for products like baby

foods or mother and baby cosmetics. Or actually anything

with a Royal warrant on. But the cost of exporting it by air

can make the prices of these Here in Finchley, boxes

are being packed ready to make It's a market many industry insiders

as say is relatively untapped. Leaving the single market makes it

even more lucrative. If you go out to China,

you see the cities are flooded with things like Spanish wines

and French cheeses, but yet there is a real lack

of British products, This train route, I think,

is just one step forward between British-China relationships

and certainly in terms of trade. With Brexit coming up,

companies like us are actually quite excited about the possibilities

of more trade agreements The Silk Road trading routes

to the west were created more than 2,000 years ago,

but it is hoped the renewal will lead to an increase in trade

between east London and east China They can capture amazing footage

from a bird's eye view, but there have also been concerns

over the potential dangers of flying Well, now drones are being used

in one part of London to survey buildings and repairs -

instead of using scaffolding. A whirr outside the window,

a drone hovering over your home. This is how council housing repairs

will be carried out in Hammersmith and Fulham from now on,

spotting potential problems with no The drone is obviously more

flexible, you can reach different heights a lot easier and it's

actually safer because we keep everyone on the ground and we're

just putting the drone up there and we control the area under

the drone and round it. The council says without

a drone, inspections can We would have to put scaffolding up

just to go up and send somebody to inspect,

which then could come back down again and then go back up again

when we do get to do the repair, And it's not just

for routine repairs. After this devastating tower block

blaze in Shepherd's Bush last year, a drone was used to get a closer

look at the damage. Now, this isn't the first time

the council has used drones. In the past there have been concerns

about whether they could be used Privacy campaigners say it's vital

that councils explain Hammersmith and Fulham Council says

it has written to all the residents here and it's had to stick to strict

rules, seeking permission from the Civil Aviation Authority,

using an experienced pilot and, because it's flying so close

to buildings, making sure it's The council hopes to save around

?150,000 next year, so this new technology could become a much

more familiar sight. That's it from me, so I'll

say goodnight and leave you with Chris Fawkes for a look

at the weather. We had some sparkling sunshine to

start the day, you can see that here in Canary Wharf. Thanks to our

Weather Watcher Hedgehog for sending that picture. With those clear skies

you can see that on the satellite picture, upstream patches of crowd

are working in. As we go through the next 24 hours there will be a bit

more close working in. Overnight, clear skies for the most part,

temperatures will fall away. There will be a widespread frost, the list

and butchers probably in Hampshire, getting to about -4, but into

tomorrow, although a lot of dry weather is on the forecast, plenty

of sunshine to look forward to that I do not think it will be gin clear

skies, there will be cloud from the East at times but they will not do

too much and it will not spoil the sunshine too much.

A chilly breeze is coming up the Thames estuaries.

High pressure stays in charge of the next few days, no great changes over

the next few next few days, no great changes over

the next few days, more sunshine on the way.

Despite high-pressure sitting across the country so only slow changes in

the weather, we have had a variety of different weathers, for example

this beautiful sunset in Southampton which was shared by a Weather

Watcher, but grey and misty in Derby thanks to an awful lot of cloud

around and very little deviation by day or night from the rather grey

routine. That is because we have a weather

front, albeit very weak and very little wind to move the cloud and

the mist on. Those areas furthest from the weather front to the south,

we will see frosty weather under clear skies and to the north and

east, but for most of us the code acts like a blanket, stopping

temperatures from falling down so relatively mild. Under the clear

skies it is another harsh frost. There is fog around and the cold air

is never too far away,