0:00:21 > 0:00:23Good evening.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Vince Cable, has warned
0:00:26 > 0:00:30the Government it would send out the wrong message if it bails out
0:00:30 > 0:00:33the struggling construction company Carillion using taxpayers' money.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35It's feared the firm, which has debts of £1.5 billion,
0:00:35 > 0:00:41could collapse after creditors rejected a possible rescue plan.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44Carillion employs about 20,000 people in the UK and is one of
0:00:44 > 0:00:45the Government's main contractors.
0:00:45 > 0:00:50Our business correspondent Joe Lynam reports.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53This is Liverpool's newest hospital under construction.
0:00:53 > 0:00:58It will be the biggest single bed hospital in the UK, and it is being
0:00:58 > 0:01:01built by Carillion. Now there is concern that projects like these
0:01:01 > 0:01:07could be affected if the company collapses. From prisons, hospitals,
0:01:07 > 0:01:10schools and rail, Carillion is responsible for some of the UK
0:01:10 > 0:01:14plasma largest infrastructure maintenance projects. So should the
0:01:14 > 0:01:16Government bailed the debt-laden company out?
0:01:16 > 0:01:21What has to happen in this case, the contracts have to be kept going and
0:01:21 > 0:01:31supporting the supply
0:01:32 > 0:01:35chain and the tens of thousands of workers, that can be done by the
0:01:35 > 0:01:38Government taking lots of this in-house, or re-tendering in other
0:01:38 > 0:01:39cases. The Government can just do a financial bailout. The shareholders
0:01:39 > 0:01:41and creditors, the big banks, had to take a hit, they cannot just
0:01:41 > 0:01:44off-load losses to the taxpayer. Carillion is a major British company
0:01:44 > 0:01:49with hundreds of contracts running prisons, maintaining hospitals under
0:01:49 > 0:01:53MoD facilities, with almost 20,000 employees here and tens of thousands
0:01:53 > 0:01:58more dependent on the company. But it has run up debts of £1.5
0:01:58 > 0:02:03billion, including almost £1 billion to its banks, whose patience has run
0:02:03 > 0:02:05out. Britain's biggest ever rail
0:02:05 > 0:02:10infrastructure
0:02:15 > 0:02:17project, high two, starts major construction this year. Here at
0:02:17 > 0:02:20Euston station, Carillion is meant to build it, but given its mountain
0:02:20 > 0:02:23of debt there is a very real chance that the Government might have to
0:02:23 > 0:02:25stop in and give those contracts to other companies, or simply bail the
0:02:25 > 0:02:27company out, with all the moral hazards that comes with.
0:02:27 > 0:02:32The RMT has called on the Government to provide reassurance for thousands
0:02:32 > 0:02:35of workers who could be affected. Also caught in the crossfire,
0:02:35 > 0:02:39hundreds of smaller companies who carry out subcontracted work on
0:02:39 > 0:02:42behalf of Carillion. Potentially it could be devastating,
0:02:42 > 0:02:46many are owed millions by Carillion and if they do not get those monies,
0:02:46 > 0:02:53of course they are at risk as a business. The other thing is there
0:02:53 > 0:02:55will be thousands of jobs, potentially, lost as a result.
0:02:55 > 0:03:02If Carillion cannot be saved are restricted to, the consultants EY
0:03:02 > 0:03:05have been put on notice to take over as administrators, a precautionary
0:03:05 > 0:03:07measure which the Government and thousands of staff hope will not be
0:03:07 > 0:03:08needed.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10And Joe Lynam joins me now.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14There is an enormous dilemma here for the Government -
0:03:14 > 0:03:18What is it likely to do?There are loads of meetings behind the scenes,
0:03:18 > 0:03:23there were a view on Thursday and I understand there will be meetings by
0:03:23 > 0:03:25officials this weekend. Major departments are involved, such as
0:03:25 > 0:03:30the scale of the problem. There is transport, the Treasury,
0:03:30 > 0:03:35business, justice. It is chaired by Cabinet Office officials, who have a
0:03:35 > 0:03:38new minister, David Lidington. The Government stresses they have
0:03:38 > 0:03:42contingency plans in place which are robust if the company should need to
0:03:42 > 0:03:46go into administration. I have been told this issue needs to be solved
0:03:46 > 0:03:51in a matter of days, not weeks. Thank you, Joe.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53Consumers can no longer be charged extra simply because they're paying
0:03:53 > 0:03:54for something using a card.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57From today, it'll be unlawful to charge credit or debit customers
0:03:57 > 0:03:58more than other customers.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01Some retailers have already said they will raise overall prices
0:04:01 > 0:04:02in response to the change.
0:04:02 > 0:04:03Adina Campbell reports.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05They are the small fees added at the very end
0:04:05 > 0:04:06of the buying process.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08In percentage terms it may not be that much,
0:04:08 > 0:04:12but these card surcharges add up.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Not any more.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19Under new EU rules, retailers on or offline can no longer charge
0:04:19 > 0:04:22customers for paying with a credit or debit card.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26The Treasury says these surcharges cost consumers
0:04:26 > 0:04:30£166 million every year.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32But some companies such as concert venues can still charge
0:04:32 > 0:04:34a booking or service fee.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36No longer will they be penalised just for paying
0:04:36 > 0:04:39by credit or debit card.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42Now with the end of surcharges you are comparing like for like.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44The price you see is the price you pay.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46You don't get a nasty sting at the end.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48But some shoppers are not convinced.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51They can do it very sneakily, can't they, and just hide that 2%
0:04:51 > 0:04:54or whatever it's going to be in the cost of what you're
0:04:54 > 0:04:55going to purchase.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58I don't see why we should have to pay that for actually
0:04:58 > 0:05:00using a means of payment that's kind of, you know,
0:05:00 > 0:05:01universally acknowledged.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04At the end of the day, they'll end up passing
0:05:04 > 0:05:06it onto the consumer, so it doesn't make that much
0:05:06 > 0:05:07difference, to be quite honest.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10Traders could feel the effects, too, because card companies will still
0:05:10 > 0:05:13charge for their services, but can no longer pass
0:05:13 > 0:05:16that fee to customers.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19Vin runs a group of small businesses and is also president of
0:05:19 > 0:05:24the British Independent Retailers' Association.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26Nearly 63% of our sales are by credit card and debit card
0:05:26 > 0:05:30so it will affect us in the long-term if rates
0:05:30 > 0:05:34and increased rates do go up.
0:05:34 > 0:05:35For retailers like this hardware store, today's ban
0:05:35 > 0:05:37throws up several options.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39They may decide to suck up the cost of processing
0:05:39 > 0:05:40a debit or credit card.
0:05:40 > 0:05:45Alternatively, they could simply put up their prices or they may decide
0:05:45 > 0:05:50to re-brand these fees as a service charge.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52One business that's already been criticised is the delivery company,
0:05:52 > 0:05:55Just Eat, which has said it will impose a new service
0:05:55 > 0:05:57charge for card payments.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00There are now calls for the new changes to be closely
0:06:00 > 0:06:02monitored to ensure consumers are not punished for
0:06:02 > 0:06:04paying by plastic.
0:06:04 > 0:06:12Adina Campbell, BBC News.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14A young male model - described as an inspiration
0:06:14 > 0:06:17to young black men - has died after being stabbed
0:06:17 > 0:06:18in a street in west London.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22Harry Uzoka, who was just 25, was signed to one of the world's top
0:06:22 > 0:06:24modelling agencies and had recently done a photo shoot with GQ Magazine.
0:06:24 > 0:06:30Two men, aged 27 and 28, have been arrested on suspicion of murder.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33Dentists have accused the Government of not doing enough to tackle
0:06:33 > 0:06:35tooth decay in England.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37New figures indicate there were nearly 43,000 operations
0:06:37 > 0:06:43to remove children's teeth last year - a 17% increase on four years ago.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45The British Dental Association says England now provides
0:06:45 > 0:06:48a second-class service compared to Scotland and Wales.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52Our health correspondent Dominic Hughes has the story.
0:06:52 > 0:06:57Tooth decay in children is distressing, painful and avoidable.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00Dentists say sugary snacks and drinks are the biggest cause.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04British children drink more soft drinks than anywhere else in Europe.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06And the number of multiple extractions, which have to take
0:07:06 > 0:07:12place in hospital under general anaesthetic, is continuing to grow.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15Figures compiled by the Local Government Association showed
0:07:15 > 0:07:20there were nearly 43,000 multiple tooth extraction is among under 18s
0:07:20 > 0:07:22in England last year.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25That's around 170 every day of the working week.
0:07:25 > 0:07:31Overall, there's been an increase of 17% in just four years.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33Dentists say children in England are suffering and are being offered
0:07:33 > 0:07:40a second-rate service when compared to Scotland and Wales.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43The Department of Health in England says the introduction of a tax
0:07:43 > 0:07:45on sugary drinks was part of its plan to reduce
0:07:45 > 0:07:47the number of extractions.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50We very much welcome the sugar tax, but we need the Government
0:07:50 > 0:07:52to focus on other areas, for example like price
0:07:52 > 0:07:54promotions or those discounts, and the level of marketing
0:07:54 > 0:07:57on unhealthy products.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00All those colours and animations are always enticing children
0:08:00 > 0:08:02to prefer those products, making the job of eating healthy
0:08:02 > 0:08:07products and healthier diet much more difficult for parents.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09With proper oral hygiene, good brushing and avoiding high
0:08:09 > 0:08:13sugar snacks and drinks, thousands of children could be
0:08:13 > 0:08:16saved from experiencing the pain of a rotten tooth.
0:08:16 > 0:08:21Dominic Hughes, BBC News.
0:08:21 > 0:08:22To rugby union and Premiership champions Exeter Chiefs
0:08:22 > 0:08:25have beaten Montpellier in the European Champions Cup -
0:08:25 > 0:08:28it means a win in their final pool match will put them
0:08:28 > 0:08:34through to the quarter finals.
0:08:34 > 0:08:35-- could put them through.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38Ulster have also kept their hopes of progressing on track,
0:08:38 > 0:08:40as Adam Wild reports.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44Sandy Park is where you find the cheats, and this was certainly an
0:08:44 > 0:08:48occasion for leaders. Top of the English league, Exeter against
0:08:48 > 0:08:52Montpellier, top of the French. They cross channel challenge with plenty
0:08:52 > 0:08:58at stake. Defeat for Exeter would end European hopes. This first try
0:08:58 > 0:09:03keeping them alive. Tense, tied, not much space, but with Olly Woodburn
0:09:03 > 0:09:06on the wing, you don't always needed.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09That was brilliant, his second, perhaps, even better. This secured
0:09:09 > 0:09:14the bonus point which might yet prove crucial in the fight was
0:09:14 > 0:09:17second in their group. The cheats are back in charge. In
0:09:17 > 0:09:21Ulster, a battle to lead pool one, that is well shall have been for
0:09:21 > 0:09:27most of the competition. The French side once appearing unbeatable, now
0:09:27 > 0:09:30seemingly reachable. Tries either side of half-time and four Ulster
0:09:30 > 0:09:33Micro, who now go top with just one game to go.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35Adam wild, BBC News.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38There's more throughout the evening on the BBC News Channel,
0:09:38 > 0:09:41we are back with the late news at 9:15pm.