30/07/2011 BBC Weekend News

Not good enough, the head of the tax office, HMRC, apologises to

customers for failings in its servers. It follows a damning

report by MPs which has highlighted delays and poor performance.

Almost out of time, Barack Obama calls on US politicians to reach a

deal to prevent the country defaulting on its debt.

Sealed with a kiss, the Queen's granddaughter, Zara Phillips,

marries her long-term love, England rugby star Mike Tindall.

Stuart Broad claims a hat-trick as England fight back in the second

Hello, good evening. The head of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs

Tax Office has apologised to its customers, admitting its service

had simply not been good enough. The admission comes after a damning

report by MPs which identified a series of failings at a John Mel C,

including an answer phone calls and letters. -- at HMRC. Joe Lynam has

more. We do not like paying tax at the

best of times, but when we have to, we expect the taxman to provide a

good service when he is taking our money. He and in Salisbury has been

trying to sort out his pension with HMRC since last October. I did not

receive a reply and of February, when they asked for further

information. I provided that response within a day or so of

receiving it. I did not hear anything more. I wrote again in

April, asking for a response to my letter. I am still waiting. He is

just one of the thousands of people who have had a poor experience with

HMRC. That is why MPs are so angry with the taxman. The Treasury

Select Committee said that there were unacceptable difficulties

contacting HMRC by telephone, endemic delays in responding to

written letters, and that the organisation's own staff had little

confidence in their own managers. They are moving away from their

customers. They are making their customers fit them, rather than fit

their customers. They are treating their customers, they are treating

taxpayers often vulnerable taxpayers, treating them very badly.

The people around HMRC are contrite, saying that a new IT system did not

help last year. We are not happy with our performance in 2010. But

what we're doing is getting on with trying to improve it. 2011, most of

the issues that they have raised, we have improved performance.

attempt to improve customer service, HMRC has hired 1,000 extra staff

and chase down large tax evaders and avoiders, netting �14 billion

for the Treasury. But it is the day-to-day dealings with ordinary

taxpayers which will matter the most for his long-term reputation.

In the United States, President Obama has again urged democratic

and Republican leaders to reach an agreement which will prevent the

government from running out of money to pay its bills. The US

Congress has until Tuesday to agree on how to increase the current debt

limit. Washington correspondent Paul Adams has more.

In a week when it looked better on the outside and the inside, Capitol

Hill is the scene of competing plans, fierce ideological battles

and a sense of mounting crisis. Important discussions are mostly

behind closed doors. Americans are growing anxious and impatient.

Credibility is at stake. When your credibility is at stake, it puts

your currency at risk. And so to a large degree, it makes us all look

bad. It is a way to ward off a crisis, whatever it takes. At the

White House, the President once again urged Congress to get a move

on. There are plenty of ways out of business but very little time. We

need to reach a compromise by Tuesday so that our country will

have the ability to pay its bills on time. Put something on the table,

tell us where you are! The IS has been seen or read as Republicans

and Democrats have fought each other to a standstill in both

Houses of Parliament -- Congress. - - this has been the scene at all

week. Last week was Wall Street's worst in a year. No signs yet of

panic but fears of worse to come. In a deal cannot be reached,

America faces financial crisis. A triple-A credit rating would almost

certainly go, costing billions in extra interest payments. The

government would have to decide what it can and cannot pay. For

example, social security checks. If the crisis drags on, the US could

in theory default on his debt, sparking global economic turmoil.

Half a world away, evidence of spreading concern. Soldiers on duty

in Afghanistan as in America's top military man if they need to worry

about their pay cheques. -- asking. I honestly cannot answer that

question. In its simplest form, if we are not allowed... If the debt

ceiling does not get raised, we will not have enough money to pay

our bills, and there are lot lot of bills. This has not been Capitol

Hill's finest hour, and there is probably still some grandstanding

to come, but this place does have a bit of a knack for reaching

agreements at the 11th hour. Despite everything, most people

In Libya, the rebel leadership says its military commander, General

Abdel Fattah Younes, was killed by Roque Islamist fighters from one of

its own brigades. Colonel Gaddafi's government said the killing prove

the rebels were incapable of running Libya. It comes as NATO

planes bombed three satellite transmitters, same state television

was being used to incite violence at threaten civilians. -- saying.

James Reynolds reports. Just after 1am in Tripoli, we

The sound echoed across the capital. A few minutes later, we saw smoke

rising. The target was Libyan state television. Gaddafi's increasing

practice of inflammatory broadcasts illustrate his regime's policy to

instil hatred amongst Libyans, to mobilise its supporters against

civilians, and to trigger bloodshed. But state television said that

NATO's strike on a satellite transmitters was an act of

terrorism which killed three of its technicians. We are not a military

target. We are not commanders in the army. And we do not pose a

threat to civilians. This afternoon in Tripoli, Libyan state television

continues to broadcast. Have a look inside his coffee shop. You will

see that state television is running a news bulletin. Our

colleagues watching in other places say that they can pick up state

And this is what the country is still talking about, the killing on

Thursday of the rebel military commander, General Abdel Fattah

Younes, by his fellow rebels. Colonel Gaddafi's government says

that the killers were from Al-Qaeda. Not true, say the rebels.

TRANSLATION: We confirm that there is no Al-Qaeda related organisation

in Libya, but we cannot deny the existence of some groups that work

against the revolution and for the interests of Muammar Gaddafi.

General's death is a great embarrassment to the rebel cause.

They are meant to be fighting Colonel Gaddafi, but instead they

have killed their own commander. The advance on Tripoli seems a long

Here in the capital, the population is getting ready for the start of

the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. They have lived through five months

of conflict. They hear both Colonel Gaddafi's messages and now the air

Police in Norway have confirmed that Anders Breivik, who has

admitted killing 77 people in two attacks last week, had other

targets in mind. Detectives yesterday questioned him for 10

hours about the bomb attack in Oslo and the shootings on Utoeya Island

on 22nd July. The Metropolitan Police have

confirmed that they are investigating claims of computer

hacking as well as phone-hacking by newspapers. Officers will consider

breach of privacy allegations received since January. It is

thought they inquiry began as the result of a Panorama programme in

March. Andy Marr has this report which contains flash photography.

The operation has been running for some time as a so-called scoping

inquiry to investigate the possible extent of computer hacking. It is

regarded in law as a more serious offence than phone-hacking.

basic penalty is now two years. If you interfere with a computer in

order to commit other offences, you can get five years. It is terrorism

related, you get much more. There are much more serious offences. The

penalty for phone-hacking and what is called ripping his two years.

is understood the police investigation began after Panorama

presented this man with evidence that is the e-mails had been hacked.

He is a former army intelligence officer who was running IRA

informers in Ireland. I can tell you that the hairs on the back of

my head up. I can tell you somebody has got a problem, because this has

come... This has been unlawfully accessed. Panorama said the e-mails

were obtained by Alex Marunchak, the News of the World's former

Irish editor. I would like to talk to you about computer hacking

carried out for the News of the World. He has always denied the

allegations against him. He told the BBC today he had nothing more

to say. News International declined to comment. In a separate

development, a former News of the World journalist has told the BBC

that at least 40 former members of staff may seek damages, saying

their career prospects were harmed by the management of the business.

They are currently taking legal advice.

OK, time to Talksport with Olly Foster. Hello.

It has been another fantastic day's cricket in the second Test between

England and India. Rahul Dravid's century gave the tourists a first-

innings lead, but thanks to Stuart Broad, not much of one. He took six

wickets at Trent Bridge on these second day, including a hat-trick.

The message for England was simple, bowl like India did but that up.

Simple but not understood, at least not for a while as a VVS Laxman and

Rahul Dravid took the sting out of It took an equally fine delivery to

end it. Tim Bresnan had the breakthrough that England

desperately needed. Next up, the little master, Sachin Tendulkar,

with an excellent record on this ground, but not this time. His way

for a 100 international century goes on. -- his weight for a 100th

international century goes on. Meanwhile, still in the wake of

England was the war, not for nothing does Rahul Dravid have that

nickname, always immovable, now moving the scoreboard. He made the

most of his reprieve, dominating the spinners on the way to 50.

Rahul Dravid went to this century as controlled as ever. Not being

able to get through the wall, England went around it. Stuart

Broad, yesterday's hero, warmed up by removing the Beeb in a row.

Harbhajan Singh was harshly LBW, but the Nottinghamshire favourite

took his first Test hat-trick. By the time Rahul Dravid sacrificed

his wicket, he knew his team had an advantage but that it was not what

it might have been. The qualifying draw has been made

for the 2014 World Cup. The tournament will be held in Brazil,

and the teams now know how they're going to get there after their

groups were drawn in Rio de Janeiro this evening. England have avoided

some of the major European nations but face Montenegro, their biggest

The first matches will take place in the autumn next year.

There were four games in the SPL de Saturn, and Ally McCoist has his

first competitive win since taking over as Rangers manager. -- this

afternoon. There were also wins for Hibernian and St Mirren.

Rebecca Adlington can finally call herself world champion. She already

had a Olympic, European and Commonwealth titles but had never

topped the podium at a world championship. Today she produced

one of the races of a life, reeling in the day Lotte Friis to win the

800 metres freestyle, Great Britain's first gold in the

swimming pool in Shanghai with just one more day of competition left.

The athletics team are also thinking about the world

championships. The world trials are under way in Birmingham, at Dwain

Chambers won the 100 metres. The 33 rd is not eligible to compete at

the Olympics because of doping offences, but he can take his place

in the team for the World Championships in South Korea at the

end of next month. And that is all the sport.

Thank you very much. And finally, the Queen's grandfather, Zara

Phillips, has married the England rugby star Mike Tindall in a

private ceremony in Edinburgh. 6,000 well-wishers lined the

streets to watch with the Queen and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

among the guests. Lorna Gordon reports.

The official wedding picture of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall,

released tonight it shows the couple and the picturesque ruins of

the Palace of Holyrood House, and it was from here that the royal

bride had earlier started her short journey to the kirk, the wedding

the first royal nuptials in Scotland in almost 20 years. Among

those invited to the ceremony, said Jackie Stewart, rugby names

including the England coach, Martin Johnson, and jockey Kieren Fallon.

Then the groom, Mike Tindall, arrived, suitably early and showing

no signs of nerves. Joining stars from the world of sport, members of

the Royal Family. Princess Anne, the Queen and Prince Philip. Some

of the biggest cheers, though, were for the Duke and Duchess of

Cambridge, William and Catherine, and Prince Harry. But this was the

day when their cousin, Zara Phillips, known for her down-to-

earth, low-key style, stepped into the spotlight. The bright's ivory

gown was by designer Stewart Parvin, the tiara lent to her by her mother.

The crowds, some who had been waiting for many hours, were not

disappointed. The atmosphere at here is lovely, yes, it is too good

to be here. Fabulous. Just to have a Royal Wedding in Edinburgh, it is

an experience in your lifetime, I think it is something that I had to

do. The ceremony itself was private, but as the newlyweds emerged, they

did have a first public kiss as a married couple. Zara Phillips has

stated that she will keep her maiden name. Those who watched the

Royal Family closely believe that both husband and wife will be happy

with the way the day turned out. think they are getting pretty much

what they wanted. I think they would have liked it to have been

even more low-key, but they have to compromise. They are having it in

the capital city, so they have to be prepared to toe the line a wee

bit. This evening Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall are celebrating their

marriage with a reception at the Palace of Holyrood house, and after

what has inevitably become at least in part for a public wedding, it is