0:00:25 > 0:00:26Good afternoon.
0:00:26 > 0:00:32The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Vince Cable, has warned
0:00:32 > 0:00:34the government not to agree to bailout the construction
0:00:34 > 0:00:36company Carillion with taxpayers' money.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39There are fears the firm, which has debts of £1.5 billion,
0:00:39 > 0:00:45could collapse after creditors rejected a possible rescue plan.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47Carillion employs about 20,000 people in the UK and is one of
0:00:47 > 0:00:51the government's main contractors.
0:00:51 > 0:00:56Our Business Correspondent Joe Lynam reports.
0:00:56 > 0:01:01This is Liverpool's list Hospital and construction, it will be the
0:01:01 > 0:01:06biggest single hospital in the UK and is being built by Carillion. Now
0:01:06 > 0:01:10there are fears that projects like this could be affected if the
0:01:10 > 0:01:13company collapses. Carillion is responsible for some of the UK's
0:01:13 > 0:01:18largest infrastructure projects. Should the government bail out the
0:01:18 > 0:01:22debt-laden company?I think what needs to happen in this case, the
0:01:22 > 0:01:25contracts have to be kept going, and supporting the supply chain and the
0:01:25 > 0:01:31tens of thousands of workers. That can be done by the government taking
0:01:31 > 0:01:35much of this in-house or re-tendering. The government can't
0:01:35 > 0:01:39adjust to a financial bailout. The shareholders and creditors, the big
0:01:39 > 0:01:44banks, have to take a hit, they can't just off-load all the losses
0:01:44 > 0:01:48onto the taxpayer.Carillion is a major British company with hundreds
0:01:48 > 0:01:52of contracts running prisons, maintaining hospitals and MoD
0:01:52 > 0:01:56facilities. At almost 20,000 employees here and tens of thousands
0:01:56 > 0:02:06more dependent on the company. Yet it has run up debts of £1.5
0:02:06 > 0:02:08it has run up debts of £1.5 billion including almost £1 billion to its
0:02:08 > 0:02:10banks whose patience has run out. Britain's biggest ever rail
0:02:10 > 0:02:14infrastructure projects are just two begins construction here and here at
0:02:14 > 0:02:16Euston station, Carillion is supposed to build and but are given
0:02:16 > 0:02:20its mountain of debt is a real chance the government might step in
0:02:20 > 0:02:24and have to give this contracts to other companies simply bail the
0:02:24 > 0:02:27company out. With all the moral hazard that comes with that. So what
0:02:27 > 0:02:34would happen to other companies that Carillion had passed on work too?
0:02:34 > 0:02:37Companies like Carillion outsource most of their works are pretty much
0:02:37 > 0:02:44all the supply chains are dependent on them for payment. And you have so
0:02:44 > 0:02:48many tiers of contracting, people lower down the chain equally
0:02:48 > 0:02:52concerned. But that's the kind of model we have in the construction
0:02:52 > 0:02:57industry were large firms outsource everything.If Carillion cannot be
0:02:57 > 0:03:02saved or restructured the consultants EY have been put on
0:03:02 > 0:03:06notice to take over as administrators. A precautionary
0:03:06 > 0:03:09measure which the government and thousands of staff hope will not be
0:03:09 > 0:03:11needed.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15And Joe joins me in the studio. A worrying time for those employed by
0:03:15 > 0:03:19Carillion and for the government a huge headache. What is happening
0:03:19 > 0:03:23behind the scenes.There has been a meeting on Thursday and there will
0:03:23 > 0:03:26be further meetings this weekend, such as the concern in Whitehall.
0:03:26 > 0:03:31Major government departments at involved in this from transport,
0:03:31 > 0:03:34Treasury, justice, business, it's all controlled by the Cabinet Office
0:03:34 > 0:03:37which has a new minister, David Lidington, this week. The government
0:03:37 > 0:03:42stressed they have contingency plans and they are robust, should anything
0:03:42 > 0:03:47happen to Carillion major projects like Liverpool and HS2 will continue
0:03:47 > 0:03:51as normal. Sources tell me the Carillion issue needs to be sorted
0:03:51 > 0:03:56in the next few days, not weeks.Joe Lynam, our business correspondent,
0:03:56 > 0:03:59thank you very much.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02Consumers can no longer be charged extra for paying by credit or debit
0:04:02 > 0:04:04card under new laws from today.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07From today it will be unlawful to charge credit or debit customers
0:04:07 > 0:04:09more than other customers.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12It is hoped the ban will benefit shoppers and holidaymakers who buy
0:04:12 > 0:04:15goods online or in small stores - but some retailers have already said
0:04:15 > 0:04:17they will raise overall prices in response to the change.
0:04:17 > 0:04:18Adina Campbell reports.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21They are the small fees added at the very end
0:04:21 > 0:04:22of the buying process.
0:04:22 > 0:04:28In percentage terms it may not be that much,
0:04:28 > 0:04:30but these card surcharges add up.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34Not any more.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37Under new EU rules, retailers on or offline can no longer charge
0:04:37 > 0:04:39customers for paying with a credit or debit card.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42The Treasury says these surcharges cost consumers
0:04:42 > 0:04:45£166 million every year, but some companies such as concert
0:04:45 > 0:04:49venues can still charge a booking or service fee.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52No longer will they be penalised just for paying
0:04:52 > 0:04:54by credit or debit card.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57Now with the end of surcharges you are comparing like for like.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01The price you see is the price you pay.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04You don't get a nasty sting at the end.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06But some small businesses are concerned the new ban
0:05:06 > 0:05:07could hit profits.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10Nearly 63% of our sales are by credit card and debit card
0:05:10 > 0:05:12so it will affect us in the long-term if rates
0:05:12 > 0:05:15and increased rates do go up.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19For retailers like this hardware store, today's ban
0:05:19 > 0:05:21throws up several options.
0:05:21 > 0:05:26They may decide to suck up the cost
0:05:26 > 0:05:30of processing a debit or credit card.
0:05:30 > 0:05:31Alternatively, they could simply
0:05:31 > 0:05:32put up their prices
0:05:32 > 0:05:35or they may decide to re-brand these fees as a service charge.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38One business that's already been criticised is the delivery company,
0:05:38 > 0:05:41Just Eat, which has said it will impose new charges
0:05:41 > 0:05:44on customers who pay by card and others may go on to do the same.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47There are now calls for the new changes to be closely
0:05:47 > 0:05:49monitored to ensure consumers are not punished for
0:05:49 > 0:05:50paying by plastic.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53Adina Campbell, BBC News.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55A 25 year-old model has died after being stabbed
0:05:55 > 0:05:57in a street in west London.
0:05:57 > 0:06:03Harry Uzoka had recently done a photo shoot with GQ Magazine.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06Friends and family have described him as an "inspiration
0:06:06 > 0:06:07to young black men".
0:06:07 > 0:06:12A 27 and 28 year-old-man have been arrested on suspicion of murder.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14Dentists have accused the government of not doing enough to tackle
0:06:14 > 0:06:19tooth decay in England.
0:06:19 > 0:06:24New figures indicate there were nearly 43,000
0:06:24 > 0:06:26operations to remove children's teeth last year - a 17%
0:06:26 > 0:06:28increase on four years ago.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31The British Dental Association says England now provides
0:06:31 > 0:06:33a second-class service when compared to Scotland and Wales.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36Our health correspondent Dominic Hughes has the story.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40Tooth decay in children is distressing, painful and avoidable.
0:06:40 > 0:06:46Dentists say sugary snacks and drinks are the biggest cause.
0:06:46 > 0:06:47British children drink more soft drinks than
0:06:47 > 0:06:48anywhere else in Europe.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52And the number of multiple extractions
0:06:52 > 0:06:54which have to take place in hospital under a general anaesthetic
0:06:54 > 0:06:55is continuing to grow.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59Figures compiled
0:06:59 > 0:07:04by the Local Government Association show there were nearly 43,000
0:07:04 > 0:07:06multiple tooth extractions among under-18s in England last year.
0:07:06 > 0:07:13That's around 170 every day of the working week. Overall, there's been
0:07:13 > 0:07:18an increase of 17% in just four years. Dentists say children in
0:07:18 > 0:07:19England are suffering, and are being offered
0:07:19 > 0:07:20a second-rate service when
0:07:20 > 0:07:22compared to Scotland and Wales.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24We have seen in Scotland and in Wales
0:07:24 > 0:07:27that they have got national programmes to try and prevent this.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29And they have actually got some reasonably good results
0:07:29 > 0:07:33out of it.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35The government has not put any money into a national
0:07:35 > 0:07:37prevention programme for England, and that's
0:07:37 > 0:07:39the reason why we are seeing
0:07:39 > 0:07:42so many children being put under general anaesthetic.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44The Department of Health in England says
0:07:44 > 0:07:51the introduction of a tax on sugary drinks was part of its plan
0:07:51 > 0:07:53to reduce the number of extractions, and that
0:07:53 > 0:07:56more than half of all children have seen a dentist in the last year.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59And, with proper oral hygiene, good brushing and avoiding high sugar
0:07:59 > 0:08:02snacks and drinks, thousands of children could be saved from
0:08:02 > 0:08:04experiencing the pain of a rotten tooth.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08Dominic Hughes, BBC News.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10With all the sport, here's Mike Bushell
0:08:10 > 0:08:13at the BBC Sport Centre.
0:08:13 > 0:08:17Good afternoon, Mike. Good afternoon, thank you. Let's start
0:08:17 > 0:08:21with tennis.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23Johanna Konta says she has recovered from the hip injury that
0:08:23 > 0:08:26disrupted her preparations for the Australian Open which starts
0:08:26 > 0:08:27on Monday in Melbourne.
0:08:27 > 0:08:28The British number one, who is seeded ninth,
0:08:28 > 0:08:31steered clear of the debate sparked by Billie-Jean King calling
0:08:31 > 0:08:33for the Margaret Court show court to be renamed
0:08:33 > 0:08:35because of controversial comments from the Aussie tennis great
0:08:35 > 0:08:39about gender and sexuality.
0:08:39 > 0:08:44I do not agree with what Margaret Court said. However she is entitled
0:08:44 > 0:08:50to her own opinion. But again in terms of playing, if I'm scheduled
0:08:50 > 0:08:53to play on Margaret Court I will go out there and compete. It is a
0:08:53 > 0:08:59tournament decision where they put me.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02In the golf, defending champions Europe trail Asia by one
0:09:02 > 0:09:03point after the second
0:09:03 > 0:09:05day of the EurAsia Cup in Malaysia.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07The Europeans had been going really well initially -
0:09:07 > 0:09:09led by Henrik Stenson and Tommy Fleetwood -
0:09:09 > 0:09:12and were two points ahead after winning the first three
0:09:12 > 0:09:16foursomes this morning.
0:09:16 > 0:09:17But the Asian team came back strongly
0:09:17 > 0:09:19and when Bernd Wiesberger and Ross Fisher missed this
0:09:19 > 0:09:22putt at the seventeenth, they went ahead six and half points
0:09:22 > 0:09:24to five and a half, going into tomorrow's singles.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27With nine athletes already named as part of the Paralympics GB team
0:09:27 > 0:09:30for the upcoming Winter Games, the race is on for others to join
0:09:30 > 0:09:32them on the plane to South Korea.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35And for the first time in 20 years there could be
0:09:35 > 0:09:37a British Nordic Ski team competing in Cross Country and Biathlon.
0:09:37 > 0:09:43Kate Grey has been to Norway to meet those chasing a place.
0:09:44 > 0:09:49For these three there is no time to take in the beautiful scenery.It
0:09:49 > 0:09:53has been 20 years since Britain has been represented in Nordic skiing at
0:09:53 > 0:10:01the Paralympics. Back then this man was flying the flag, now at 47 he is
0:10:01 > 0:10:05hoping to give it another go.It's like a new lease on life. I had not
0:10:05 > 0:10:11realised how much I had missed it. It gets a hold of you, I am really,
0:10:11 > 0:10:17really glad I'm back here again.For his team-mates Scott and Steve
0:10:17 > 0:10:21Pyeongchang would be their Paralympic debut but they have had
0:10:21 > 0:10:25international experience competing at the Invictus Games.To get my
0:10:25 > 0:10:29body and my mind ready for going to the big events like the Invictus
0:10:29 > 0:10:34Games, that has helped massively. It's definitely been a big stepping
0:10:34 > 0:10:38stone to move on to, hopefully, to go to the Paralympics in March.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42These guys have been two very different journeys to reach this
0:10:42 > 0:10:46point but they have one thing in common, the military background.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49It's thanks to support from the help that he was programmed that they
0:10:49 > 0:10:55have been able to recover, train and find success through sport.Every
0:10:55 > 0:10:59newspaper article is about being a soldier, losing your legs. And
0:10:59 > 0:11:01suddenly you find yourself in the world of sport where people don't
0:11:01 > 0:11:06care how you got injured, they can about how fast you can ski and
0:11:06 > 0:11:09clearly you can shoot and they want to know if we are going to the
0:11:09 > 0:11:12Paralympics or how we did in the World Cup. They don't care about
0:11:12 > 0:11:16your injury and I really enjoy that. It helps me feel I have truly moved
0:11:16 > 0:11:23on with my life, and I don't like my injury define me.And with two more
0:11:23 > 0:11:27qualification events before the team is announced in one month's time
0:11:27 > 0:11:33it's the final push to make it to Pyeongchang. Kate Grey, BBC News,
0:11:33 > 0:11:35Norway. Let's hope they can make that plane.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37That's all the sport for now.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40Plenty more on our website - bbc.co.uk/sport.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44Plenty on the build-up to today's football in the Premier League, its
0:11:44 > 0:11:47goal is between Cardiff and Sunderland, that's the latest. Thank
0:11:47 > 0:11:49you Mike.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52You can see more on all of today's stories on the BBC News Channel.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54The next news on BBC One is at 5.40pm.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58Bye for now.