02/07/2017 BBC Weekend News

Another government minister signals that the 1% cap on public sector pay

Michael Gove says the Government should listen to the recommendations

of those bodies, amid growing pressure on the Prime Minister

Plans to restrict foreign fishing boats' access to British waters,

as the Government prepares to pull out of a key agreement.

The civilians caught up in the final stages of the bid

to retake Mosul in Iraq - from IS extremists.

Stephen Hawking's dismay at Donald Trump over climate change -

he says pulling out of the Paris agreement could doom

And - tennis star Petra Kvitova talks about returning to Wimbledon,

There's growing pressure on the Prime Minister

and the Chancellor over public sector pay rises,

after another Cabinet minister raised the prospect of the current

The Environment Secretary Michael Gove said the recommendations

of public sector pay bodies - which review pay increases -

One of those bodies has warned that the present cap is putting

Here's our Political Correspondent Iain Watson.

For every year that there's been a pay freeze or a public sector pay

cut, first under a coalition government, then under the

Conservatives, there's been a demonstration. But since the

government lost its majority, protesters have become more hopeful.

Not one day more was the slogan this weekend, as they marched through

Parliament Square, and there are signs that some of the government

are listening. Today the Environment Secretary said ministers should

accept recommendations on pay from independent review bodies. I think

that we should listen to the pay review bodies who govern each

individual area of public sector pay.

These pay review bodies have been set up in order to ensure we can

have authoritative for advice on what's required to make sure the

public services on which rewrites are effectively starved and the

people within them are effectively supported. Around 5 million public

sector workers have had effectively a 1% cap on pay rises since 2013.

This is set to last until the end of the decade, meaning by was in 2000

sector pay would be no higher in real terms than it was there are

eight independent pay review bodies which make. They can call for

increases above 1%, but the government isn't bound by the

recommendations. Decisions on police pay and teachers pay are expected to

be taken later this month. Theresa May's cabinet is split over the

principle of whether to. They can call for increases above 1%, but the

government isn't bound by the recommendations. Decisions on police

pay and teachers pay are expected to be taken later this month. Theresa

May's Cabinet is split over the principle of whether to lift sector

pay gap, but it could be dismantled bit by bit. It's widely expected

that some of the pay will recommend increases government minister close

to the process has told, and a government minister close to the

process has that government is prepared to accept those cap should

be but not everyone in government is convinced a pay cap should be pay

for our public services it's very important that we keep budget

discipline, because it's impossible to pay for our public services

place, we have saved around 200,000 public sector a growing economy.

What we have done on public sector pay, by having that cap in place, we

have saved around 200,000 public sector lifting the pay gap former

nurse, who is now a Conservative MP, says the government could pay an

even higher price if it keeps it in save ?6 billion but a former nurse,

who is now a Conservative MP, says the government could pay an even

higher price if it keeps it in long I know of colleagues who have left

nursing. I know of people who are taking early retirement, for

example, because it's a tough job and and they can get other jobs

with, less responsibility for similar at so we've got to look at

the the public service. Labour said it would simply scrap the cap

entirely. We're saying to the pay review bodies get rid of the 1% cap

and give a fair pay rise. I think they should consider giving people a

pay rise in line with earnings. These demonstrators happens across

the public service. Labour said it would simply scrap the cap entirely.

We're saying to the pay review bodies get rid of the 1% cap and

give us their pay rise. I think they should consider giving people a pay

rise in line with earnings. These demonstrators seeded in ending

austerity but they might give two cheers if the government eases the

cap on public sector pay. The Government has announced it's

withdrawing from a 50 year old convention that allows some

other countries to fish close It says the move will help Britain

determine its own fishing policy. But the European Commission

says the convention no Here's our Business

Correspondent Joe Lynam. A fortnight after the formal Brexit

talks started, there's a new front The UK is quitting a 53-year-old

convention which allowed countries like France and Belgium to fish

right up to the British coastline. We are giving notice

that we intend to quit that. It's a provision in the agreement

that enables us to do that This is important to give

us the legal clarity. We're absolutely clear that

when we leave the EU, we leave the Common Fisheries

Policy, and we will take control for managing fisheries

resources in our own waters. That's right out to 200 nautical

miles, or the halfway So what is the London

Fisheries Convention? At the moment trawlers

from France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and Ireland can fish

to within 6 nautical miles Boats from these countries

catch 10,000 tonnes of fish But that's a tiny fraction

of more than 700,000 tonnes a year Almost all of that fish is caught

in the much wider 200 nautical miles But the decision has angered

the Irish government, which has the only land

border with Britain. Its Fisheries Minister

described the move as And scrapping the convention

could also be meaningless. The EU Commission said today

that the London Convention had been superseded by EU rules covered

by the Common Fisheries Policy, What it does is make a strong

commitment to achieving sovereignty, taking sovereignty over our waters,

which international law states is ours at the moment of Brexit,

and this is just another statement of intent that that

will be what happens. So, some welcome the Government

taking back control, others may view fisheries as a tiny

part of Britain's economy to be used as a bargaining chip in the frosty

relations between Britain The Government has identified

a further 32 high rise buildings that have failed fire safety tests,

taking the total number to 181. Tests are continuing nationwide,

in an attempt to identify buildings encased in cladding similar to that

used on the Grenfell Tower. According to the figures,

Salford has the greatest number of high rises that

have failed tests. At least 19 people have been killed

in a suicide car bombing in the Syrian capital,

Damascus. The bomber was in one

of three cars that had been The other two car bombs

were intercepted and destroyed. Iraqi special forces have

recaptured more territory in the Old City of Mosul,

in the final stages of the operation to drive out

so-called Islamic State. Troops and police are now

closing in from three sides on the militants,

who captured the city But Iraqi commanders say as many

as 50,000 civilians may be trapped behind IS lines,

as Orla Guerin reports from Mosul. Safe at last from the dying days

of battle against IS. Traumatised civilians

are fleeing with a little more than the clothes they stand up in,

some newly bereaved by the conflict. "Every day you ask me how I am",

she says, "And we sit together. The civilians here have just managed

to escape the fighting, they're hungry and tired

and they look scared. They've been caught between the two

sides at risk, both from both Islamic State and the operation

against them, but the troops They want to make sure that no one

has emerged who could be a risk. They are concerned that suicide

bombers could be trying to come out We're fine to carry

the women and the kids out, but if it is a medical emergency,

it's better if we have British volunteer Sally Becker

is here with a medical charity. A veteran of war, she says

nothing compares to Mosul. We've got the snipers, we've got

the vehicle borne explosive. Even a woman yesterday,

which makes it extremely dangerous now for us,

because most of who we carry And many come here,

to a field hospital nearby. Doctors say they have

been losing children to mortars and shrapnel,

but soon hundreds They see dozens per day

who are severely malnourished. Much of the civilians' suffering

here has gone unseen, but three years of IS rule have

deeply scarred Mosul and its people. From this one street in

the Old City, IS executed four men. "Sometimes I worry they'll be

back", says this lady. "When I hear fighting at night,

I hope I can forget them." A military victory looks close here,

but there are fears about IS sleeper cells and about the future that may

await this broken city. Stephen Hawking has told the BBC

that Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris climate

agreement, could doom the planet - and future generations will have no

choice but to find life elsewhere. He was speaking on the occasion

of his 75th birthday - a milestone he says he never

thought he'd reach. Our Science Correspondent

Pallab Ghosh reports. . When I was diagnosed I was told it

would kill me in two or three years. Now, 54, I was told it would kill me

in two or three years. Now, 54, albeit weaker and in a wheelchair,

I'm still working and producing scientific today, Stephen Hawking

celebrates his 75th birthday. It's been a got through only with a

lot of help from my family, colleagues and which I have got

through only with a lot of help from my family, colleagues and his

scientific at an event at Cambridge University to pay tribute to his

life, he was applauded for his scientific being inspired today, so

there will be ten-year-olds today or the legacy will be the scientist he

inspired, and there will be thousands of them, and they're still

being inspired today, so there will be ten-year-olds today or eight-year

olds who are reading about the work he did and may go on to be the

Stephen and reading about the work he did and may go on to be the next

Einstein, we in an exclusive interview with BBC News, Professor

Hawking told me he was worried about. In an exclusive interview

with BBC News, Professor Hawking told me he was worried about from

the Paris climate agreement and what of our species. What are your views

on President from's decision to withdraw from the Paris climate

agreement and what impact do -- do you think it will have on the we are

getting to the point where global warming is Donald Trump's action

could put the earthDonald Trump's action could put the Earth over the

bridge. Reigning sulphuric acid. Stephen Hawking has three children.

His daughter Lucy says his life is an inspiration, and not just to

scientists. People who have lived in really extreme circumstances seem to

find something very inspirational in his example of perseverance and his

ability to rise above his suffering and still want to communicate at a

higher level. His ideas have transformed our understanding of the

cosmos, but what's being celebrated is his determination and humanity.

Pallab Ghosh, BBC News, Cambridge. With all the sport, here's

Olly Foster at the BBC Sport Centre. Andy Murray says he's fit

for Wimbledon fortnight. A hip problem has hampered his

preparations but he'll start the defence of his title

on Centre Court tomorrow. Playing straight after him

is Petra Kvitova, the Czech is one of the favourites for the women's

crown again, but has only recently returned to the tour

after she was injured in a knife David Ornstein has

been to meet her. She's a two-time Wimbledon champion

whose life was turned upside down. Just days before Christmas,

Petra Kvitova was attacked in her own home by an intruder

with a knife. She suffered career threatening

injuries to her playing hand. The recovery has been

remarkable, but the scars, I had all my fingers cut,

so it was a difficult time for me. The lowest point,

it's tough to say... I mean, of course, I had some

bad dreams afterwards. I was still a bit tired

from everything that Kvitova underwent an emergency

operation lasting almost four hours, but still faced an anxious wait

over the outcome. I told my doctor I would

like to lie, I'm very nervous, I may throw up a bit,

so I'm sorry. He said I could lie,

and that's helped me, actually. And it wasn't as bad

as I thought it would be. By March, Kvitova was able to hold

a racket again and two months later She prepared by winning

in Birmingham and now incredibly she's being tipped by many

for the title. It was my dream, my motivation to be

here, to step on the court and play The people probably think,

but I'm not here to win it. I've already won the biggest

fight before, and I won Welshman Gerraint Thomas is still

in the leaders yellow jersey He and his teamate, the reigning

champion Chris Froome, were caught up in a crash

on the second stage today but both managed to rejoin the peleton

and Froome remains sixth overall. A sprint finish in Liege saw

Germany's Marcel Kittel win the England's cricketers

have their second win They beat Sri Lanka by 7 wickets

in their latest group game. Captain Heather Knight

and Sarah Taylor shared a partnership of 148 in Taunton,

to leave them fourth in the standings with four

more games to play. The top four will qualify

for the semi-finals. And that is all your support for

now. Thank you. That is