16/01/2018

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0:00:05 > 0:00:08Tonight at ten - after the collapse of Carillion, mounting uncertainty

0:00:08 > 0:00:13for thousands of workers and many small firms.

0:00:13 > 0:00:15As suppliers demand information about whether they'll get paid,

0:00:15 > 0:00:18a fast-track investigation into Carillion's directors

0:00:18 > 0:00:21is ordered by the government.

0:00:21 > 0:00:24I know that the Business Secretary Greg Clarke is going to make sure no

0:00:24 > 0:00:26stone is left unturned in order to establish just

0:00:26 > 0:00:32where responsibility lies for the collapse of the company.

0:00:32 > 0:00:35There are growing concerns for thousands of small firms,

0:00:35 > 0:00:39whose contracts with Carillion are worth about £1.7 billion.

0:00:39 > 0:00:44We're a viable business, but without some sort of help

0:00:44 > 0:00:45from the government in the short to medium term, it's unlikely

0:00:45 > 0:00:47we'll trade out of this.

0:00:47 > 0:00:51We'll be looking at those directly affected by Carillion's

0:00:51 > 0:00:53collapse, including more than 1400 apprentices.

0:00:53 > 0:00:55Also tonight...

0:00:55 > 0:00:58A couple in California are charged with torture and child endangerment,

0:00:58 > 0:01:01after their 13 children were allegedly held captive

0:01:01 > 0:01:04in the family home.

0:01:04 > 0:01:06The US Olympic gold gymnast, Simone Biles, says she was sexually

0:01:06 > 0:01:12abused by the USA team doctor, Larry Nassar.

0:01:12 > 0:01:15The 30-year plan to revolutionise transport in the north of England -

0:01:15 > 0:01:19but it gets a rather mixed response.

0:01:19 > 0:01:21Iceland becomes the first supermarket to say that

0:01:21 > 0:01:23plastic will be eliminated from its own-brand products

0:01:23 > 0:01:31within five years.

0:01:32 > 0:01:35A new national Health Service starts, providing hospital and

0:01:35 > 0:01:36specialist services.

0:01:36 > 0:01:38And the changing role of nurses in the NHS -

0:01:38 > 0:01:40we talk about the challenges they face.

0:01:40 > 0:01:42And coming up on Sportsday on BBC News...

0:01:42 > 0:01:44Could Leicester overcome Jamie Vardy's former club, Fleetwood

0:01:44 > 0:01:51Town, in tonight's FA Cup third round replay?

0:02:11 > 0:02:12Good evening.

0:02:12 > 0:02:15Thousands of workers and small firms facing an uncertain future,

0:02:15 > 0:02:19are demanding answers from ministers following the collapse

0:02:19 > 0:02:22of Carillion, the construction giant which went into

0:02:22 > 0:02:22liquidation yesterday.

0:02:22 > 0:02:25Ministers have ordered a fast-track investigation

0:02:25 > 0:02:28into the firm's directors, but Labour wants an independent

0:02:28 > 0:02:32assessment of the potential costs facing the taxpayer.

0:02:32 > 0:02:34Carillion, the UK's second biggest construction firm,

0:02:34 > 0:02:36employs 20,000 people in the UK, but many small firms

0:02:36 > 0:02:40are also linked to it.

0:02:40 > 0:02:43One expert estimates that 30,000 companies

0:02:43 > 0:02:45are owed money by Carillion.

0:02:45 > 0:02:47First tonight, Simon Jack reports on the problems raised

0:02:47 > 0:02:53by Carillion's collapse.

0:02:53 > 0:02:56Just how many workers for Carillion and its subcontractors will be

0:02:56 > 0:02:59leaving their current jobs for good?

0:02:59 > 0:03:02Carillion owes Andy Bradley £1 million, £1 million

0:03:02 > 0:03:06he doesn't expect to get paid.

0:03:06 > 0:03:09Outside his office, two chairs are now empty,

0:03:09 > 0:03:10two of 11 staff he's already let go.

0:03:10 > 0:03:12It's devastating.

0:03:12 > 0:03:15These are people I've known for years and years.

0:03:15 > 0:03:17They've been loyal, hard working individuals,

0:03:17 > 0:03:20helped get the business to where it is today.

0:03:20 > 0:03:23One lady just, I don't know if you just as you arrived,

0:03:23 > 0:03:26she came in, we had to let her go.

0:03:26 > 0:03:27She left in tears.

0:03:27 > 0:03:33He says the Government's decision to keep

0:03:33 > 0:03:34faith with Carillion after multiple profit warnings

0:03:34 > 0:03:35sent the wrong message.

0:03:35 > 0:03:38Contract after contract after contract they awarded them billions

0:03:38 > 0:03:39of pounds of public sector contracts.

0:03:39 > 0:03:42So the message that's given the SME sector is the

0:03:42 > 0:03:43Government must have done its due diligence.

0:03:43 > 0:03:47Carillion must be a sound business to work for.

0:03:47 > 0:03:52That confusion is turning to anger, particularly at

0:03:52 > 0:03:59former bosses, like Richard Howson, who left Carillion after the first

0:03:59 > 0:04:02profit warning in July 2017.

0:04:02 > 0:04:04He took home £1.5 million in 2016 and is due

0:04:04 > 0:04:06to receive a £660,000 salary until October.

0:04:06 > 0:04:08Keith Cochrane took over the reins in September on a

0:04:08 > 0:04:11salary of 750,000.

0:04:11 > 0:04:13And tough questions for the finance director, who was looking

0:04:13 > 0:04:17after the company's accounts when the crisis hit.

0:04:17 > 0:04:19It's gone under.

0:04:19 > 0:04:2020,000 jobs are directly at risk.

0:04:20 > 0:04:26A large number of supply chain jobs are at risk,

0:04:26 > 0:04:28those people who worked so hard over Christmas on

0:04:28 > 0:04:32Carillion-based rail contracts, I'm not sure they've been paid.

0:04:32 > 0:04:37The directors have done very well out of

0:04:37 > 0:04:40Carillion, and the chief executive has had a massive payoff.

0:04:40 > 0:04:41Some of the City's accounting firms also

0:04:41 > 0:04:43find their way into this story.

0:04:43 > 0:04:45KPMG prepared the financial reports the

0:04:45 > 0:04:48directors used to give Carillion a clean bill of health four months

0:04:48 > 0:04:51before a massive profit warning.

0:04:51 > 0:04:58We also find from this document a witness statement from the acting

0:04:58 > 0:05:01chief executive - they were updating

0:05:01 > 0:05:03on the financial condition of the company

0:05:03 > 0:05:05and by the end, PWC refused to

0:05:05 > 0:05:07become administrators for fear there wasn't enough

0:05:07 > 0:05:08cash to pay their fees.

0:05:08 > 0:05:10Earlier in the day, the Government promised a fast track

0:05:10 > 0:05:14investigation into the company's collapse.

0:05:14 > 0:05:19It's also vital that we look back and find out what went wrong.

0:05:19 > 0:05:23I know that the Business Secretary, Greg Clarke, is going to

0:05:23 > 0:05:26make sure that no stone is left unturned in order to establish just

0:05:26 > 0:05:29where responsibility lies for the collapse of the company.

0:05:29 > 0:05:31Union bosses met with the Business Secretary

0:05:31 > 0:05:33tonight to turn over a few stones of their own,

0:05:33 > 0:05:36so what did they find?

0:05:36 > 0:05:40There are a lack of confidence not only amongst workers,

0:05:40 > 0:05:44indeed amongst many medium, small family businesses, who rely on these

0:05:44 > 0:05:48contracts and frankly, don't know whether they're going to get paid

0:05:48 > 0:05:51from one week to the next. So we'll see where that takes us.

0:05:51 > 0:05:58The cranes at this Carillion site in Smethwick

0:05:58 > 0:06:00were becalmed this evening, but the construction

0:06:00 > 0:06:01industry is in turmoil.

0:06:01 > 0:06:05As we've heard, Carillion's collapse has implications for thousands

0:06:05 > 0:06:06of people across the UK.

0:06:06 > 0:06:09Among those are the 1400 apprentices who've been

0:06:09 > 0:06:12in training at its own centre, and there are more than

0:06:12 > 0:06:1512,000 retired workers drawing their pensions.

0:06:15 > 0:06:18They're all concerned about their futures,

0:06:18 > 0:06:26as Frankie McCamley has been finding out.

0:06:26 > 0:06:27Carillion's promise to make tomorrow a better place.

0:06:27 > 0:06:29Investors expect a lot from Carillion.

0:06:29 > 0:06:32We can provide not only the best training, the best work

0:06:32 > 0:06:36placements, access to good opportunities for work.

0:06:36 > 0:06:38For Kyle that's simply not the case.

0:06:38 > 0:06:41This morning, after three years as an apprentice for the company,

0:06:41 > 0:06:47he was sent home from college with no explanation.

0:06:47 > 0:06:50Basically, I went into college and we were about to start work.

0:06:50 > 0:06:53My tutor went for a meeting.

0:06:53 > 0:06:57When he come back, he said, we can go and that they were about to come

0:06:57 > 0:07:01and turn the electric off.

0:07:01 > 0:07:03What, you can just go home?

0:07:03 > 0:07:04We can go home, yeah.

0:07:04 > 0:07:06He says the course has had problem for month.

0:07:06 > 0:07:08My tutor now, he's good to be fair.

0:07:08 > 0:07:11He's trying to help me through everything at the minute.

0:07:11 > 0:07:13The previous ones that were just there partime,

0:07:13 > 0:07:16it's like they didn't really care about the students there.

0:07:16 > 0:07:17It was just a job to them.

0:07:17 > 0:07:20Carillion is involved in projects in towns

0:07:20 > 0:07:22and cities across the UK, including a handful

0:07:22 > 0:07:24here in Manchester.

0:07:24 > 0:07:25Earlier today, I spoke to one site manager,

0:07:25 > 0:07:28who didn't want to come on camera.

0:07:28 > 0:07:32He said he'd turned up to work today and was told he couldn't do anything

0:07:32 > 0:07:36because the multimillion pound site was no longer insured,

0:07:36 > 0:07:38despite not being given any information, he was adamant

0:07:38 > 0:07:41he was losing his job.

0:07:41 > 0:07:44But he said he would keep coming to work in the hope

0:07:44 > 0:07:46of getting redundancy.

0:07:46 > 0:07:50It's not just people currently in work with concerns.

0:07:50 > 0:07:56Carillion operates 13 final salary pension schemes in the UK,

0:07:56 > 0:07:58with around 28,500 members, more than 12,000 of whom are already

0:07:59 > 0:08:01claiming a pension, including Martin, who's owed tens

0:08:01 > 0:08:05of thousands of pounds.

0:08:05 > 0:08:11For a family, we've got three fairly small boys, we don't -

0:08:11 > 0:08:13we need the money basically.

0:08:13 > 0:08:16I don't know what we're going to do.

0:08:16 > 0:08:19It's an uncertainty shared by thousands, as they wait to find

0:08:19 > 0:08:22out how the demise of such a major industry player will

0:08:22 > 0:08:25affect their future lives.

0:08:25 > 0:08:33Frankie McCamley, BBC News.

0:08:36 > 0:08:39Simon, what were underlining is how many people are affected by this

0:08:39 > 0:08:45collapse. Other answers tonight? What the government and the official

0:08:45 > 0:08:47receiver and the official agencies who are managing this liquidation

0:08:47 > 0:08:54are saying, is that if you are employed by Carillion or employed by

0:08:54 > 0:08:57a company employed by Carillion, a subcontractor, working on a public

0:08:57 > 0:09:02sector project, then since this liquidation you are effectively

0:09:02 > 0:09:06employed by the government. You will be paid and they encourage you to

0:09:06 > 0:09:09keep working. However, if you are working for a private sector

0:09:09 > 0:09:15project, those payments may come to an end as soon as tomorrow. What is

0:09:15 > 0:09:19the great unknown, as we saw in the piece earlier about the man owed £1

0:09:19 > 0:09:23million, is how much, if anything, people with backdated bills for

0:09:23 > 0:09:28Carillion going back over previous work, we'll actually get paid back.

0:09:28 > 0:09:32In this document, this statement from the acting chief executive,

0:09:32 > 0:09:36there is so little cash left in the business the chances of recovering

0:09:36 > 0:09:41much of that money owed are very slim indeed. And that is the big

0:09:41 > 0:09:44worry, that that will set off shock waves through the rest of the

0:09:44 > 0:09:46industry.Simon Jack. Thank you.

0:09:46 > 0:09:53Our deputy political editor, John Pienaar, is at Westminster.

0:09:53 > 0:09:56John, this uncertainty, the fact that ministers are under so much

0:09:56 > 0:09:59pressure to deliver a clear answers, what is your reading of things at

0:09:59 > 0:10:04Westminster?The government is trying to keep track of these

0:10:04 > 0:10:07services that ministers promised would carry on. The Treasury has

0:10:07 > 0:10:12offered an open line of credit to the receiver to see that that

0:10:12 > 0:10:16happens. But the pressure is on. Westminster feels like a scalp on

0:10:16 > 0:10:20right now, with demands for an enquiry into Carillion coming thick

0:10:20 > 0:10:23and fast, and promises of parliamentary enquiries coming

0:10:23 > 0:10:27almost as quickly. We have seen the business secretary saying the

0:10:27 > 0:10:30receivers look at whether there was corporate misconduct that Carillion

0:10:30 > 0:10:34and that should be done quickly. The government wants to be seen as part

0:10:34 > 0:10:38of the solution, not the problem. Ministers would rather be seen as

0:10:38 > 0:10:43hunters rather than prey. Expect changes in the way the rules are

0:10:43 > 0:10:49operated. I have been picking up talk that companies would have to go

0:10:49 > 0:10:53through stress tests to show they are sound businesses before they get

0:10:53 > 0:10:59contracts. Not enough for a Labour, certainly not enough Jeremy Corbyn,

0:10:59 > 0:11:01who is questioning the involvement of private firms in public

0:11:01 > 0:11:07contracts. If there is another collapse, another failure, another

0:11:07 > 0:11:12Carillion, and the fears are real in Whitehall, that would light a fire

0:11:12 > 0:11:17on this -- on this already hot controversy involving private firms

0:11:17 > 0:11:19and the state. Many thanks, John Pienaar.

0:11:19 > 0:11:22A couple in California have been charged with torture

0:11:22 > 0:11:25and child endangerment, after their 13 children

0:11:25 > 0:11:27were allegedly held captive in the family home.

0:11:27 > 0:11:29The brothers and sisters, aged between two and 29,

0:11:29 > 0:11:32were found to be dirty and emaciated, with some chained to

0:11:32 > 0:11:33their beds.

0:11:33 > 0:11:41James Cook reports from Southern California.

0:11:45 > 0:11:47In public, they looked like a big happy family.

0:11:47 > 0:11:48Devoutly Christian.

0:11:48 > 0:11:51Renewing their wedding vows in Las Vegas, David and Louise Turpin

0:11:51 > 0:11:55played the part of proud parents.

0:11:55 > 0:12:01But in private, say police, they had a dark secret.

0:12:01 > 0:12:02Before dawn on Sunday, a 17-year-old girl escaped

0:12:02 > 0:12:04from this house through a window.

0:12:04 > 0:12:07She had taken a deactivated mobile phone and managed to use it to call

0:12:07 > 0:12:12police.

0:12:12 > 0:12:14Inside officers found her 12 brothers and sisters, dirty

0:12:14 > 0:12:15and malnourished.

0:12:15 > 0:12:17Three were shackled to their beds with chains and padlocks.

0:12:17 > 0:12:21The home was dark and foul smelling.

0:12:21 > 0:12:24I wish I could come to you today with information that would explain

0:12:24 > 0:12:26why this happened.

0:12:26 > 0:12:28But we do need to acknowledge the courage of the young

0:12:28 > 0:12:31girl who escaped from that residents to bring attention, so they could

0:12:31 > 0:12:35get the help they so needed.

0:12:35 > 0:12:39Neighbours say the Turpins were originally from West Virginia.

0:12:39 > 0:12:42The father was an engineer on a good salary but had twice

0:12:42 > 0:12:50declared bankruptcy.

0:12:51 > 0:12:53Neighbours admit there were signs things were amiss.

0:12:53 > 0:12:56I never saw a scooter, I never saw a bike.

0:12:56 > 0:12:58I saw the infant maybe three times.

0:12:58 > 0:12:59Maybe.

0:12:59 > 0:13:00I never saw the infant again.

0:13:00 > 0:13:02How did they live when you saw them?

0:13:02 > 0:13:04They were always pale, like abnormally pale.

0:13:04 > 0:13:06The children to look pale in pictures posted on Facebook.

0:13:06 > 0:13:08Here they are visiting Disneyland.

0:13:08 > 0:13:11Police say the siblings were so small they were shocked to

0:13:11 > 0:13:13discover that seven were actually adults.

0:13:13 > 0:13:14The eldest, 29.

0:13:14 > 0:13:17They are now being treated in hospital.

0:13:17 > 0:13:20They have gone through a traumatic ordeal.

0:13:20 > 0:13:22I can tell you that they are very friendly.

0:13:22 > 0:13:25They are very cooperative.

0:13:25 > 0:13:29And I believe that there are hopeful that life will get better for them

0:13:29 > 0:13:32after this event.

0:13:32 > 0:13:36This quiet Californian suburb is now under intense scrutiny.

0:13:36 > 0:13:40The authorities say they had no prior contact with the family.

0:13:40 > 0:13:42But neighbours are searching their souls, wondering if

0:13:42 > 0:13:45they could have saved the siblings sooner.

0:13:45 > 0:13:48As for David and Louise Turpin, they are now under arrest,

0:13:48 > 0:13:56charged with torture and child endangerment.

0:13:59 > 0:14:03With the media gathered outside the house, we are getting a little more

0:14:03 > 0:14:07detail about what might have happened and what is now happening.

0:14:07 > 0:14:12We are told that all 13 of these siblings are the biological children

0:14:12 > 0:14:17of David and Louise Turpin. We are told there is no evidence at this

0:14:17 > 0:14:22stage they were sexually abused. What is happening now at the

0:14:22 > 0:14:27hospital is that doctors are working on trying to feed them, trying to

0:14:27 > 0:14:30improve their physical condition, and also offering them counselling

0:14:30 > 0:14:34and other psychological help, to help with their mental state as

0:14:34 > 0:14:38well. They have obviously suffered what was described were -- by one

0:14:38 > 0:14:44doctor as a horrific ordeal. The medical staff are concerned about

0:14:44 > 0:14:47the potential for post-traumatic stress disorder, and they know that

0:14:47 > 0:14:51these 13 siblings will have a job adjusting to their new lives.

0:14:51 > 0:14:55James, many thanks. James Cook with that story in Southern California.

0:14:55 > 0:14:58The rate of inflation has fallen for the first time in six months,

0:14:58 > 0:15:00mainly because of the impact of air fares.

0:15:00 > 0:15:02The inflation rate dipped to 3% in December -

0:15:02 > 0:15:04down from November's rate of 3.1% which

0:15:04 > 0:15:09was a six-year high.

0:15:09 > 0:15:12A teacher from East London has gone on trial at the Old Bailey,

0:15:12 > 0:15:15accused of planning terrorist attacks on some of London's

0:15:15 > 0:15:17best-known landmarks.

0:15:17 > 0:15:20Prosecutors say Umar Haque, seen here on the left, was inspired

0:15:20 > 0:15:24by the Islamic State group. He denies the charges.

0:15:24 > 0:15:28Abuthaher Mamun and Nadeen Patel, who also appeared in court, also

0:15:28 > 0:15:33denied the charges against them.

0:15:33 > 0:15:36President Macron of France has been on a visit to Calais,

0:15:36 > 0:15:41where he's declared that he will not allow new migrant camps to be built.

0:15:41 > 0:15:43He was visiting ahead of talks with Theresa May this week,

0:15:43 > 0:15:46when he's expected to ask Britain to take in more migrants.

0:15:46 > 0:15:50He's also expected to ask for more funding for border security.

0:15:50 > 0:15:58Live to Calais and our correspondent, Lucy Williamson.

0:15:58 > 0:16:01Well, it's hard to believe there are people sleeping out in conditions

0:16:01 > 0:16:05like this tonight. But there are here in Calais, hundreds of them.

0:16:05 > 0:16:10President Macron came here today to highlight that issue and also to

0:16:10 > 0:16:15urge the UK to do more to manage the impact of having the UK border here

0:16:15 > 0:16:19in Calais, in effect, I suppose you could say, he's started presenting

0:16:19 > 0:16:23his wish list to Theresa May before he'd even arrived on British soil.

0:16:23 > 0:16:27There are very few people here who think the president actually wants

0:16:27 > 0:16:32to move the border back to Dover, but there's a lot to negotiate in

0:16:32 > 0:16:35the post-Brexit relationship and Mr Macron seems to have started the

0:16:35 > 0:16:38bidding early.

0:16:38 > 0:16:42Once the UK was a magnet for Juma, today it was the French president.

0:16:42 > 0:16:45After months of camping around Calais, the Sudanese migrant

0:16:45 > 0:16:48has decided to apply for asylum in France.

0:16:48 > 0:16:51Mr Macron's government has promised a quicker welcome

0:16:51 > 0:16:54for those it accepts, a quicker rejection

0:16:54 > 0:16:56for those it refuses.

0:16:56 > 0:16:59Juma is still waiting for his answer.

0:16:59 > 0:17:05So you are our president, not in front of you, but in my heart.

0:17:05 > 0:17:08But hundreds of migrants around Calais are avoiding asylum centres

0:17:08 > 0:17:13like this in a bid to reach the UK illegally, and Mr Macron wants more

0:17:13 > 0:17:18help from Theresa May in dealing with them.

0:17:18 > 0:17:21TRANSLATION:We need to better manage the issue of isolated minors,

0:17:21 > 0:17:24reinforce police co-operation in Calais, with the departure

0:17:24 > 0:17:30and transit countries and unblock funds for the Calais region.

0:17:30 > 0:17:35I will raise these points with our British friends in 48 hours.

0:17:35 > 0:17:41Despite big British investments in security, migrants continue

0:17:41 > 0:17:44to test border defences.

0:17:44 > 0:17:47This petrol station, its perimeter fence broken,

0:17:47 > 0:17:50a new favourite for those trying to board lorries bound for the UK.

0:17:50 > 0:17:52We caught this man squeezing through before being caught

0:17:52 > 0:17:55by a police patrol.

0:17:55 > 0:17:59Mr Macron is due to talk to the Prime Minister on Thursday

0:17:59 > 0:18:04about how to improve the joint management of the border here.

0:18:04 > 0:18:10France would like Britain to take more migrants from Calais and to pay

0:18:10 > 0:18:14more money towards security and border checks.

0:18:14 > 0:18:18Mr Macron has vowed to prevent another Jungle taking root.

0:18:18 > 0:18:22Police routinely demolish the small camps that cling on,

0:18:22 > 0:18:25but aid workers say that some here, including families, have reached

0:18:25 > 0:18:28the UK in the past few months.

0:18:28 > 0:18:31Discomfort no match for that renewal of hope.

0:18:31 > 0:18:37Lucy Williamson, BBC News, Calais.

0:18:37 > 0:18:39There's been a mixed response to the announcement

0:18:39 > 0:18:42of a £70 billion plan to improve road and rail links

0:18:42 > 0:18:44across the north of England.

0:18:44 > 0:18:47Transport for the North, which was set up to co-ordinate

0:18:47 > 0:18:50improvements, says the scheme will connect major cities and

0:18:50 > 0:18:53reverse a long-term gap in funding.

0:18:53 > 0:18:56Danny Savage reports from Leeds.

0:18:56 > 0:19:00The hills of the North.

0:19:00 > 0:19:02Beautiful, but a physical barrier between the

0:19:02 > 0:19:04conurbations either side of the Pennines.

0:19:04 > 0:19:06Travelling by car can be painful.

0:19:06 > 0:19:11The few routes over the top are often congested.

0:19:11 > 0:19:14As for the trains, they're frequent but

0:19:14 > 0:19:16relatively slow, and can be overcrowded.

0:19:16 > 0:19:18Because there are always delays on the train, we do

0:19:18 > 0:19:21want the train service to be a bit more quicker

0:19:21 > 0:19:24than what it usually is.

0:19:24 > 0:19:26Most of the trains between Halifax and Bradford, and Halifax to

0:19:26 > 0:19:29Leeds, like this, are like an old bus -

0:19:29 > 0:19:32draughty, hot, old.

0:19:32 > 0:19:37Recent key infrastructure projects have

0:19:37 > 0:19:40included Crossrail in London, with Crossrail 2 now been proposed.

0:19:40 > 0:19:45And HS2 from London to Birmingham and

0:19:45 > 0:19:47beyond is still on the cards.

0:19:47 > 0:19:50The strong feeling in the North is that

0:19:50 > 0:19:52it is time for some simultaneous big projects there too.

0:19:52 > 0:19:55Improving transport links across the Pennines is nothing new.

0:19:55 > 0:19:58This is the Leeds Liverpool Canal built more than 200 years ago.

0:19:58 > 0:20:01But instead of taking a few days by water, the hope is, for

0:20:01 > 0:20:03example, getting from Leeds to Manchester by train down

0:20:03 > 0:20:06to about half an hour.

0:20:06 > 0:20:09After years of discussion about improving things, there is now a

0:20:09 > 0:20:15plan the northern cities agree on.

0:20:15 > 0:20:17There used to be a train tunnel between Sheffield and Manchester.

0:20:17 > 0:20:20That's long gone.

0:20:20 > 0:20:23But a new road tunnel, like this one in Norway, is

0:20:23 > 0:20:26proposed, and could halve the current journey

0:20:26 > 0:20:29between the cities.

0:20:29 > 0:20:31And a new trans-Pennine railway line will link Leeds

0:20:31 > 0:20:33and Manchester by Bradford.

0:20:33 > 0:20:36I think we also need to make sure that we cover Hull,

0:20:36 > 0:20:38Sheffield, Newcastle and Manchester, of course -

0:20:38 > 0:20:40so all our major city regions.

0:20:40 > 0:20:43This is vitally important for the North.

0:20:43 > 0:20:46But remember, this is a 30 year plan and is still only at the idea stage.

0:20:46 > 0:20:49Former Transport Secretary John Prescott walked out of the launch

0:20:49 > 0:20:50in Hull today, unconvinced.

0:20:50 > 0:20:53It will have no powers.

0:20:53 > 0:20:56It can talk to the Treasury along with the strategic

0:20:56 > 0:20:59bodies, but it can't make a decision.

0:20:59 > 0:21:05It doesn't get any money. It's a bloody fraud.

0:21:05 > 0:21:08It is the government that will have to be

0:21:08 > 0:21:11convinced to stump up the money for these ambitious projects,

0:21:11 > 0:21:13to upgrade northern transport.

0:21:13 > 0:21:21Danny Savage, BBC News, Leeds.

0:21:23 > 0:21:24The Olympic champion gymnast, Simone Biles, has said

0:21:24 > 0:21:27she was sexually abused by the former USA team

0:21:27 > 0:21:28doctor, Larry Nassar.

0:21:28 > 0:21:30He was jailed last month for 60 years, for possessing

0:21:30 > 0:21:32images of child abuse, and he's awaiting sentencing,

0:21:32 > 0:21:34after admitting assaulting other female gymnasts.

0:21:34 > 0:21:36Nassar's many victims have been making statements

0:21:36 > 0:21:44to a court in Michigan, and Rajini Vaidyanathan is there.

0:21:44 > 0:21:46COMMENTATOR:Absolutely amazing.

0:21:46 > 0:21:48Her smile lit up the Olympics and her performances won her four

0:21:48 > 0:21:50gold medals and worldwide acclaim.

0:21:50 > 0:21:53But through it all, Simone Biles hid a dark secret.

0:21:53 > 0:22:00Olympic champion, Simone Biles comes forward to say she was also sexual

0:22:00 > 0:22:06Olympic champion, Simone Biles comes forward to say she was also sexually

0:22:06 > 0:22:09sexually abused by former US A gymnastic doctor, Larry Nassar.

0:22:09 > 0:22:12Simone Biles is the most high profile of Larry Nassar's victims.

0:22:12 > 0:22:14He's alleged to have abused more than 100 young girls.

0:22:14 > 0:22:18Biles says she knows she's not to blame for what happened and isn't

0:22:18 > 0:22:24afraid to speak out now:

0:22:25 > 0:22:26In court today, Larry Nassar came

0:22:26 > 0:22:29face to face with some of the young women he abused,

0:22:29 > 0:22:31at the start of a sentencing hearing.

0:22:31 > 0:22:33As they took their turn, they bravely told the court

0:22:33 > 0:22:38what he'd done to them.

0:22:38 > 0:22:41Good morning, my name is Kyle Stephens.

0:22:41 > 0:22:43Kyle Stephens was first abused by Nassar when she

0:22:43 > 0:22:44was just six years old.

0:22:44 > 0:22:47Perhaps you have figured it out by now, but little girls don't

0:22:47 > 0:22:48stay little forever.

0:22:48 > 0:22:55They grow into strong women that return to destroy your world.

0:22:55 > 0:23:03I was 12 years old when I told my parents, "When Larry

0:23:06 > 0:23:08rubbed my feet, he uses his penis."

0:23:08 > 0:23:11Sitting on my living room couch I listened to you tell me,

0:23:11 > 0:23:13"No-one should ever do that and if they do, you

0:23:13 > 0:23:14should tell someone."

0:23:14 > 0:23:16Well, Larry, I'm here, not to tell someone,

0:23:16 > 0:23:17but to tell everyone.

0:23:17 > 0:23:19Olivia Cowan suffered for years from Nassar's abuse.

0:23:19 > 0:23:22Now she's finally rebuilding her life and is a mother.

0:23:22 > 0:23:24I will educate my children about monsters like you and pray

0:23:24 > 0:23:27to God they will never experience pain like this.

0:23:27 > 0:23:30There will be a day where I look into my soul and I will still see

0:23:30 > 0:23:32the scars of this nightmare.

0:23:32 > 0:23:40But I will no longer feel the deepness of their pain.

0:23:47 > 0:23:50For the young women who shared their stories today here at court,

0:23:50 > 0:23:52this is also about accountability.

0:23:52 > 0:23:56How did Larry Nassar work as the team doctor for USA

0:23:56 > 0:24:00gymnastics for nearly two decades and continue his abuse?

0:24:00 > 0:24:03And what did top officials know?

0:24:03 > 0:24:08One of those who wants answers from the US gymnastics team

0:24:08 > 0:24:09is Simone Biles' team-mate.

0:24:09 > 0:24:13What did USA gymnastics do and Larry Nassar do to manipulate

0:24:13 > 0:24:18these girls so much that they're so afraid to speak up?

0:24:18 > 0:24:21As they performed before millions around the world,

0:24:21 > 0:24:24these young women were hiding the pain and trauma of abuse.

0:24:24 > 0:24:26After a day of emotional testimony, the world of gymnastics is now

0:24:26 > 0:24:34confronting its own me-too moment.

0:24:41 > 0:24:45Donald Trump has been advised to eat a lower fat diet and take more

0:24:45 > 0:24:46exercise following a medical.

0:24:46 > 0:24:48But the White House doctor, Ronny Jackson, said the president

0:24:48 > 0:24:50was generally in excellent health and had performed well

0:24:50 > 0:24:51on cognitive tests.

0:24:51 > 0:24:54Dr Jackson said he expected Mr Trump to remain healthy

0:24:54 > 0:24:58for the duration of his presidency.

0:24:58 > 0:25:04I had absolutely no concerns about his cognitive ability or his, you

0:25:04 > 0:25:08know, his neurological function. So I was not going to do a cognitive

0:25:08 > 0:25:12exam. I had no intention of doing one. The reason we did the

0:25:12 > 0:25:15assessment is plain and simple because the president asked me to do

0:25:15 > 0:25:19it. He came to me and said, is there something we can do, a test or some

0:25:19 > 0:25:27kind of screen we can do to assess my cognitive ability?Dr Ronny

0:25:27 > 0:25:31Jackson.

0:25:31 > 0:25:33Ministers have welcomed a decision by the supermarket chain, Iceland,

0:25:33 > 0:25:35to remove all plastic from its own-brand

0:25:35 > 0:25:36products within five years.

0:25:36 > 0:25:38The company said it would use paper packaging instead.

0:25:38 > 0:25:40And the fast food chain, McDonald's, says it intends

0:25:40 > 0:25:42to make all its packaging sustainable by 2025.

0:25:42 > 0:25:45The annoucnements came as the EU announced plans to make all plastic

0:25:45 > 0:25:51packaging recyclable by 2023, as Daniela Relph explains.

0:25:51 > 0:25:56It is an ambitious target, from the supermarket known for its frozen

0:25:56 > 0:26:00foods. But across the full range of Iceland's own-brand products,

0:26:00 > 0:26:06plastic is on the way out. That's the packaging on fruit and

0:26:06 > 0:26:10vegetables, the dishes that hold a ready meal, the plastic bags for

0:26:10 > 0:26:15frozen goods, all to be replaced by paper or other biodegradeable

0:26:15 > 0:26:20containers by 2023.These are our ultimate steak burgers in a

0:26:20 > 0:26:24cardboard box, which is good. But it comes wrapped in a plastic bag.

0:26:24 > 0:26:29There is no need for that plastic bag. We have to recognise our

0:26:29 > 0:26:33responsibility as retailers, because we are a leading contributor of

0:26:33 > 0:26:37plastic packaging. So today Iceland are coming out and saying enough is

0:26:37 > 0:26:41enough.Iceland is about low prices and budget shopping. But the company

0:26:41 > 0:26:46says the cost of removing plastic will not be passed on to shoppers.

0:26:46 > 0:26:50Are you very aware of it when you shop how much plastic there is?I

0:26:50 > 0:26:54am. I hate it.Got to do something about it. Eventually, like, there'll

0:26:54 > 0:26:59be nowhere to put it.This is a bold decision by one retailer. Iceland

0:26:59 > 0:27:02hopes it will now put pressure on other supermarkets to do exactly the

0:27:02 > 0:27:07same. That pressure to reduce plastic waste is increasingly

0:27:07 > 0:27:12global. Today the European Union announced plans for all plastic

0:27:12 > 0:27:18packaging to be recyclable by 2030. We're going to turn our packaging

0:27:18 > 0:27:21legislation inside out and review what kind of plastic packaging can

0:27:21 > 0:27:27be put on the market to enable easy and cost effective recycling.There

0:27:27 > 0:27:31is now a momentum across business to reduce plastics. Waitrose today

0:27:31 > 0:27:36announced it will remove all plastic straws and black plastic packaging

0:27:36 > 0:27:41by the end of the year. McDonald's says all of its packaging worldwide

0:27:41 > 0:27:49will come from sustainable sources by 2025. The plastic industry

0:27:49 > 0:27:51supports increased recycling, but it's concerned about what they see

0:27:51 > 0:27:55as misinformation.I've seen recycling rates understated for

0:27:55 > 0:27:58plastics. I've seen statements made about plastics that can't be

0:27:58 > 0:28:04recycled that we know can. I've also seen statements made about all the

0:28:04 > 0:28:08litter that's found in our ocean that fails to tell the consumer that

0:28:08 > 0:28:12the majority of that pollution comes from the developing world not from

0:28:12 > 0:28:17the West.For Iceland, reducing plastic waste has to be a group

0:28:17 > 0:28:21effort, if it's to have serious impact. It believes significant

0:28:21 > 0:28:29change requires all of the main supermarkets to collaborate.

0:28:29 > 0:28:31This winter has already brought its share of challenges

0:28:31 > 0:28:34for the NHS, and tomorrow will bring a renewed focus

0:28:34 > 0:28:36on staffing levels, with the latest BBC figures

0:28:36 > 0:28:39on the recuitment of new nurses.

0:28:39 > 0:28:42The role of nurses has changed significantly over the years,

0:28:42 > 0:28:45as they take on responsibilities previously reserved for doctors.

0:28:45 > 0:28:48Adina Campbell has been speaking to some of the longest-serving

0:28:48 > 0:28:54nurses in the NHS.

0:28:54 > 0:28:59Combined they have nearly 150 years of nursing experience.

0:28:59 > 0:29:03Originally from the Philippines, these women came over

0:29:03 > 0:29:06to England in the 1970s, during a time when the NHS was faced

0:29:06 > 0:29:14with shortages and in desperate need of support from overseas.

0:29:14 > 0:29:18That's our badge from the hospital, St Martin, it's the green one.

0:29:18 > 0:29:20They've come to this exhibition, at the Royal College

0:29:20 > 0:29:24of Nursing in London, to reminisce and reunite.

0:29:24 > 0:29:27Just very, very nostalgic.

0:29:27 > 0:29:31Out of 20 of us, there were only three British nurses that

0:29:31 > 0:29:35were in training and the rest were all foreign.

0:29:35 > 0:29:39Mostly from Malaysia, India, Jamaica.

0:29:39 > 0:29:43When we first started, we just started for about a month

0:29:43 > 0:29:49in the school and then straightaway we were exposed to the wards,

0:29:49 > 0:29:52and that's how our training was based on.

0:29:52 > 0:30:00Really, bed-side nursing.

0:30:00 > 0:30:03ARCHIVE:The new National Health Service starts providing hospital

0:30:03 > 0:30:06and specialist services.

0:30:06 > 0:30:10Nurses were a crucial part of the NHS from its inception,

0:30:10 > 0:30:15but their role was often undervalued and recognition came slowly.

0:30:15 > 0:30:19ARCHIVE:And this job needs doing just as much as this.

0:30:19 > 0:30:21Anyone that's interacted with a nurse will know that

0:30:21 > 0:30:24it's not a stereotype, we're not in the Carry On films,

0:30:24 > 0:30:27this is real-life.

0:30:27 > 0:30:29And actually, most of the time, whatever healthcare you're

0:30:29 > 0:30:32receiving, you will spend your time with a nurse.

0:30:32 > 0:30:35I don't think in 1948 we even took blood pressures.

0:30:35 > 0:30:38You know, now we're giving chemotherapy,

0:30:38 > 0:30:41we're giving life-saving drugs, we're monitoring conditions

0:30:41 > 0:30:43and actually we are the glue.

0:30:43 > 0:30:47That's why 86% of the population trust nurses.

0:30:47 > 0:30:50These are two of the faces of modern nursing, as it filters

0:30:50 > 0:30:55through the generations.

0:30:55 > 0:30:57Ghislaine Stephenson has enjoyed a 35-year career working

0:30:57 > 0:31:00in hospitals across London, while her daughter Grace

0:31:00 > 0:31:03is at the beginning of hers.

0:31:03 > 0:31:08I think 30 years ago, the nurses were handmaidens to the doctors,

0:31:08 > 0:31:12following their instructions.

0:31:12 > 0:31:15Whereas nowadays, we're breeding nurses now that are making those

0:31:15 > 0:31:18decisions for patients and that, to me, is the absolute,

0:31:18 > 0:31:21the difference, the nurses making those decisions.

0:31:21 > 0:31:23A well-respected member of the multi-disciplinary team.

0:31:23 > 0:31:26And nurses are under so much pressure these days in hospitals,

0:31:26 > 0:31:30staffing levels, pay, that hasn't put you off at all?

0:31:30 > 0:31:32Definitely not.

0:31:32 > 0:31:35There's always going to be sick children and families that

0:31:35 > 0:31:38need our help and no other job has job satisfaction like that.

0:31:38 > 0:31:43If there was one small bit of advice that you'd give to Grace

0:31:43 > 0:31:46about her starting her career, that may stay with her

0:31:46 > 0:31:48the whole way through, what would it be, do you think?

0:31:48 > 0:31:51Never stop caring.

0:31:51 > 0:31:54Adina Campbell, BBC News.

0:31:54 > 0:31:58By the way tomorrow, we will bring you the latest figures that we have

0:31:58 > 0:32:03on the problems of recruiting and retaining nurses in the NHS.