12/11/2012 BBC News at One

The Government questions the size of the pay-off to the outgoing BBC

Director General, George Enwistle, of nearly �500,000. The Prime

Minister says the payment is hard to justify but says he has full

confidence in Lord Patten as chairman of the BBC Trust. The

Acting Director General, Tim Davie, changes the structure of BBC News.

Its head and deputy temporarily step aside. If the public are going

to get journalism they trust from the BBC, as director general, I

have to be clear on who is running the operation and ensuring that

journalism we put out passes muster. Muslim cleric Abu Qatada wins his

appeal against deportation to Jordan, where he is accused of

terror attacks. A British serviceman is shot dead by a man in

Afghan Army uniform, at his base in Helmand. And High Street names are

under attack for not paying enough tax in the UK. On BBC London:

Police are appealing for witnesses after a pensioner was stabbed to

death during a burglary in Fulham. Where you live could decide if the

NHS will pay for specialist cancer Good afternoon and welcome to the

BBC News at One. The Prime Minister has intervened in the row over a

pay-off of nearly �500,000, to the outgoing BBC Director General,

George Entwistle. Mr Entwistle left at the weekend because of failures

at Newsnight. He had been in the job less than two months. A

spokesman for David Cameron said the pay-off of �450,000 was hard to

justify. Lord Patten has defended the size of the payment. Meanwhile,

the Acting Director General, Tim Davie, says there needs to be a

clear line of command in BBC News. He has asked the head of BBC News

and her deputy to step aside. Simon McCoy is outside New Broadcasting

House now. A busy day here. The reorganisation within the

corporation, particularly the news department and the pay-off to

George Entwistle. The smart new London headquarters of the BBC. The

self-confident architectural statement by a proud, a national

institution, now reeling from a crisis of its own making. There is

growing anger at the pay-off given to George Entwistle. �450,000,

twice what he was due under the terms of his contract. It is very

difficult to justify the decision that has been taken. The BBC must

justify to the licence-fee payer value for money. This is going to

have to happen. The acting director-general arrive for work

this morning, determined to show he has taken grips of the chaotic

situation. His first move, a reshuffle. Helen Boaden has stepped

aside, leaving Fran and I have to fill her role for the time being.

Stephen Mitchell has also stepped aside leaving Ceri Thomas to stand

in for him. Karen O'Connor at is to be acting editor of Newsnight.

Helen Boaden and Stephen Mitchell were involved indeed cancelled

Newsnight into the allegations of Jimmy Savile. Other senior figures

took responsibility for the floor at Newsnight. If the public is to

get journalism it can trust, I have to be very clear on who is running

the news operation and ensuring that journalism that we put out

passes muster. The first decision I have made is to get a grip of that

would take action and build trust a putting in a clear line of command.

The risk in all of this is that the victims of child abuse could be

forgotten. I have once led, sadly, an inquiry into a paedophile ring.

It is important that victims have confidence. When they give their

statements, they will be properly investigated and those who have

abused them will be brought to justice. That has to be conducted

and I'm sure it will be conducted as effectively as possible. The BBC

says disciplinary action against some of those involved in the

recent Newsnight film is likely as it tries to preserve its reputation

as most trusted organisation. Let's go to Norman Smith, who is at

Westminster. This payout, how much poor lad has there been? Not so

much a backlash as a collective howl of outrage. -- fall-out has

there been. Not just the size of it but that what is seen as the PR

crassness of the mood, at a time when the BBC is struggling to

regain trust from the electorate. Lord Patten has been demanded to

explain this. Harriet Harman has demanded that George Entwistle

forgoes the extra six months. We have had a letter to Lord Patten to

the chairman of the Culture Select Committee, setting out his reasons.

If George Entwistle had not taken the honourable decision to stand

down, then he would have had to have been sacked. The BBC Trust

would have had to pay him 12 months. That decision was to expedite

matters. How much more pressure does this put on Lord Patten?

the backbenches, There is a growing view that Lord Patten is not the

man to lead the BBC through this crisis. He is a very experienced

politician but there is a view that this pay-off saga has demonstrated

his political and 10 I have gone a bit wobbly. That is not the view of

Downing Street. If Lord Patten were to stand aside, that would compound

the prices -- at the crisis in the BBC. At the moment, Downing Street

is standing by Lord Patten but they expect change to be delivered

quickly. Let's speak to Nick Higham. Looking at the announcement this

morning, more reorganisation within the corporation. What about the

timing? Some people inside BBC News our surprise that Helen Boaden and

Stephen Mitchell have stepped aside, just at this moment. They are among

the people being investigated by an inquiry, which is looking at why

this time last year Newsnight dropped an investigation of Jimmy

Savile. And asking men to Stepaside at this moment does look, slightly,

as if it is prejudging that. They were trying to do their day jobs,

where the majority of BBC News coverage was concerned, but

standing back from all coverage of Jimmy Savile and child abuse and

that did produce a muddle to chain of command. The priority is to

react to the report into the real problem - most recent problems - of

the Newsnight report. The head of BBC Scotland did a quick report

which George Entwistle asked for. That was delivered over the weekend.

What is said today is that disciplinary action may follow. A

number of people were involved, including people working for the

Newsnight programme. As a result of this business about editorial

oversight being different, the Controller of 5live and their heads

of BBC in Northern Ireland, they were the people who had line

management responsibility. It is as a result of that situation that we

have now arrived at the position where we have two separate news

executives responsible for all news coverage, whatever the subject.

British serviceman has been shot dead by a man dressed in Afghan

Army uniform at his base in Helmand province. The Ministry of Defence

said the soldier was from The Royal Regiment of Scotland. His family

have been told. Caroline Wyatt sent this report. Here, in Helmand, the

1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scott and other troops that work

most closely with the Afghan Army. They are charged with mentoring and

training Afghan soldiers. We filmed with than just a few days ago as

they played a friendly football match at an Afghan Army base. The

atmosphere was calm though an armed British soldier still stood watch,

to protect his comrades. It does not always work. The attack on

Sunday took place during or after just such a match. An Afghan

soldier opened fire on his British counterpart before trying to flee.

It is not clear what prompted this attack. The Afghan soldier died of

his wounds, after being shot. The most senior Afghan Army commander

said he is deeply upset by this latest tragedy.

TRANSLATION: I am heartbroken by this incident there might troops

feel the same pain. They will take every effort to prevent incidents

like this, so they do not have an effect on our relationship with

allies. Where heart goes out to families in the UK. British

soldiers, like this Scottish medic, are continuing to work closely with

Afghan counterparts. When I am on patrol, all I am concerned that is

correct if we take casualties, what will I do? I have never had any

concerns. I have known member for I have left camp. -- I have known

them before I have left camp. not yet known whether the attacker

was a Taliban sympathiser. Five from this Brigade, 12 British

troops if Derbyshire, have been killed by those they came to help.

-- 12 British troops this year. The radical Muslim cleric, Abu Qatada,

has won his battle against deportation to Jordan to face

terror charges. The Special Immigration Appeals Commission

upheld his appeal after his lawyers claimed he would not get a fair

trial there. The Government strongly disagrees with the

decision and will appeal against it. Having got one radical cleric on a

plane out of the UK last month, the Government was hoping to do the

same with Abu Qatada. This is a serious defeat for Theresa May.

is described as a truly dangerous individual and a threat to national

security. Attempts to deport him have been thwarted by the European

Court of Human Rights. British judges have backed Abu Qatada in

his battle to stay in the UK. The Government has been desperate to

get him on a plane to Jordan. Theresa May on one of a clutch of

ministerial visits their earlier this year. The British said they

had got key assurances from the Jordanians, including a guarantee

that evidence obtained to torture would not be used against Abu

Qatada if you were to return to stand trial. Today's judgment said

There is a real risk of such a judgment being presented. The Home

Countries with poor human rights records, with regard to torture and

lack of fair trial, will not change those records just because they

write it down on a piece of paper. Abu Qatada arrived in Britain 22

years ago and was granted asylum. He became a preacher a formidable

influence and is said to have advocated killing Jews and

attacking Westerners. In a BBC interview after 9/11, he praised

Osama Bin Laden. TRANSLATION: In the image I have of

him - a Muslim man who defends the causes of his nation against his

enemies - should be supported by every Muslim. He has never been

convicted of any offence in this country. The Jordanians want him

over his alleged involvement in two terrorist plots. In the spring, Abu

Qatada was removed from the house and where he had been briefly on

bail. He was sent back to gel on what ministers hope was the first

step on the road to deportation. The forced exit strategy has been

derailed by today's ruling. At present, Abu Qatada remains in the

UK. The senior judge has refused the Government permission to appeal

against his ruling. The Government could try another avenue of appeal.

Theresa May is due to make a statement on all of this in the

House of Commons this afternoon. AJP believes he should be released

The top story: The Government questions the size

of the pay-off to the outgoing BBC Director-General, George Entwistle,

of nearly half a million pounds, but the chairman of the BBC Trust

defended the settlement. Coming up: Are some of the big High

Street names paying enough UK tax? On BBC London. The judge is soming

up the trial of the former MP for charges of admitting false expense

claims. A call for England? More to come in 15 minutes.

The Greek Parliament has narrowly voted to approve big spending cuts

despite the public protests. The cuts were agreed last light as

thousands demonstrated outside of Parliament it means that Greece

will get further EU bail out funds. Eurozone finances ministers are due

to discuss the crisis later in Brussels. Let's go there now to

speak to our correspondent. Matthew, how crucial is the meeting? It is

very important. The decision has not yet been taken to hand over the

money to Greece. Greece needs some 31 billion euros in extra funding.

That has been on hold since May when the Greek elections were being

held. That is when they were being run. It needs some 5 billion euros

by the end of the week to pay off debts that mature. So this is a

CrossRail part of the crisis, if u -- if you like.

The head of the euro group has been saying that he has received the

report from Greece's international creditors, which he described as

being positive. That will raise eyebrows, but he says that is a

positive report. You pensioned -- mentioned the fact that the Greek

have passed austerity measures. There is a lot of dissatisfaction

in some capitals, noticeably in Berlin and in some of the other

countries in Europe, worried about being seen to throw more money

after bad money into some sort of bottomless pit, but the reason that

the money, it is assumed, it will be handed over is because of all of

the countries of the eurozone, and the International Monetary Fund and

to the European Union are locked in this. They have already made a

lending, if they don't give it more, it will go brunt.

So, when do we think now that the crisis in Greece will end? Well, I

think, if you are Greek, not for a generation. The cuts have been

ep.ic. That country is on its knees. could be talking about -- eurozone,

we could be talking about several years on. This it depends on how

long the eurozone and others decide to stick with the commitment that

Greece will not leave the single currency of the euro. There are a

number of potential problems in the way, firstly, the Greek economy is

getting worse, not better. Some talk of a need for a third bail out.

The International Monetary Fund, how long will its rules allow it to

keep giving Greece money in order to help it out of its situation? A

lot of questions to be answered, but I'm convinced I will be here

for many months to come talking to you about this.

Thank you very much. Executives from Google Starbucks

and Amazon are to be questioned later on this afternoon by MPs on

the Public Accounts Committee. It is part of an inquiry into tax

avoidance. All three companies have been accused of paying little or no

tax on the UK income. Let's talk to our business

correspondent. What do MPs want to get from the

executives? Well it is basically to justify what appears to be the

situation that they pay so little Corporation Tax on the UK

businesses. With Starbucks, for instance, they sold nearly �400

million worth of coffee and cake last year but paid no Corporation

Tax. It is a similar story with Google and Amazon. It appears that

as they are international, they can arrange international affairs to

make the money in countries where the tax rates are low. This is not

something that is open to a corner shop or a smaller business

competing with them here. Can anything be done about it?

can be brought here for a roasting. That is likely to happen this

afternoon. The law could be changed to link the taxs to sales, but that

could put off businesses from operating in the UK. Or pain-

staking negotiations with other countries to make it is -- make it

a more level playing field, but the companies say that they pay some

taxes, business rates, and national insurance on employees and VAT to

the Government. Thank you very much. On Thursday,

China's communist party are to unveil the new leaders to take over

the running of the country, but what about the other 82 million

party members. What is life like at the grass roots of the world's

biggest political party? The people are foremost, says the slogan.

Inside the flame of party loyalty burns strong. You don't have to

search hard for a reason. Haunghaunghaung has been a

Communist Party -- this man has been a Communist Party member for

six years. In a boom of economic growth during which the

organisation has added another 7 million members to its ranks.

TRANSLATION: The people's lives are getting better. China is moving in

the right direction to become a developed country. We should

support the party. This week, it is all about a

transition of power at the very top, but the grass roots are changing

too. While farmers and peasants still

account for a third of the party, that proportion is now matched by a

new class of member. This golden cow, a tonne in weight

is testament to the money made in just one village. For the

professionals and the businessmen hoping to get rich, a party card is

not compulsory, but it definitely helps.

The party chief here keeps an eye on the stock market and see no, sir

contradiction with the party's founding principles.

TRANSLATION: Our goal is to realise communism. It could be in ten, 100,

even 500 years, but the primary aim is to make everyone rich.

In one important sense, little has changed since the days of Chairman

Mao. The monopoly on power is unyielding. There is still no

political freedom. Personal freedom is on the rise and the party does

not boss people around as much as it once did, but the bar for

joining is still set high. TRANSLATION: Not smoking, getting

good grades, helping school friends. These are qualities that have

helped me to become one of the lucky few.

Of course, the Communist Party of China faces real challenges at this

moment of transition, but with 82 million members and growing, no-one

should underestimate the firm hold that it retains over the people's

lives. Environmental groups have

criticised a scheme designed to help the UK to meet EU targets for

renewable power. Power stations are to get subsidies to burn wood

instead of coal on the ground that trees absorb carbon dioxide while

growing, but campaigners argue that there are not enough trees to

sustain the project. It is cold outside, but trust a dog

to nab the warmest spot in house. At their home in Yorkshire, the

Goulder family get the wood burner going when the nights draw in. It

is an effort, but it is worth it. . It is lovely to look at... But if

it takes this to help to heat a room for a few hours, what does it

need to run a power station burning wood? Drax Power Station in

Yorkshire is the biggest in the UK. Coal is what generates the heat to

make the power, but coal produces too much of the CO2 helping to

disrupt the climate. So the use of coal is to be halved.

And here is what will be burned instead, wood and other materials

together known as biomass. Lengths of birch branches are shredded for

the furnace. Plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere while growing, so

the Government says that this system helps the environment. It is

hard to grasp.the scale of this. Just imagine how much wood this

place will need to burn? Nearly 7 million tonnes of it a year, the

great majority is imported from the USA and Canada.

Environmentalists fear that the impact on the world's forests of

burning more and more wood. They say it will not help the climate in

time. When you burn wood, the CO2 comes

from the chimney just as when you burn coal. While the tree will re-

grow and recapture the carbon from the atmosphere, it can take decades,

if not centuries for that to happen. To stop dangerous climate change we

have to cut emissions now, not in 100 years' time.

The truck delivering the wood produces CO2 emissions. So does

turning the wood into pellets for the furnace, but Drax Power Station

say it is still worthwhile. We are confident we are delivering

savings. There is ample sustainable biomass, but we burn the stuff that

people do not want. Either way, burning wood for power is on the

increase. It will push up people's power bills. Subsidies will stretch

to more than �1 billion. The former British spy, George

Blake has given a rare interview to Russian television to mark his 90th

birthday. George Blake fled to the USSR in 1996. Vladimir Putin

congratulated him on his staunch work.

We have this report from Moscow. Today he has a Russian home a

Russian wife, even a Russian name, Georgy Ivanovich, but this is

George Blake, the former British intelligence officer, who for

nearly a decade, spied for the Soviets. To mark his 90th birthday,

Russian TV has been given rare access to one of the most notorious

double agents of the Cold War. He said he didn't see himself as a

hero or a traitor. George Blake spent three years in cap nift North

Korea. By the time he returned to Britain in 1993 he was a communist.

He became a KGB mole, taking the train to the Soviet sector, landing

over data, and drinking champagne with his KGB handler. He convinced

himself he was doing something that was right.

I did not change sides because of Blakemail or torture. I offered the

services voluntarily. He proiblg does not see himself as a traitor

as he believes in these things. He is not aware of a betrayal as he

was brainwashed into believing them, but from a UK point of view, of

course, he is a significant traitor. George Blake was jailed for 42

years, but in 1966 he escaped from prison and fled to Moscow where he

was hailed as a hero. George Blake claimed that he handed

the names of hundreds of Western agents to Moscow. George Blake

showed no remorse and Russia continues to show its gratitude,

offering his birthday wishes, Vladimir Putin it is said, that

George Blake's work deserved the highest recognition and respect.

Over the year Moscow has given him many medals and the rank of Colonel,

but the one thing he is missing is communism. He betrayed his country

for a political system that turned out to be a pipe dream.

Heavy rains and strong winds have caused flooding in several areas in

Italy with the problem most severe in Venice. The people have been

forced to wade through knee-high water, one of the worst floods in

150 years. .Well, it is not so bad here, we

hope. Let's get the latest weather. hope. Let's get the latest weather.

Is it coming our way? No, a change of week and weather type.

After a lovely sunny weekend. There is now a blanket of cloud and from

that there are weather fronts invading bringing some rain. You

can see there, a few holes in the cloud. Fingers crossed we may get

some brightness for the east of Wales and the east of Devon.

Generally, the story is a cloudy one. It is a damp and breezy day to

come. That is the story tonight. So we lose the rain into the south-

east. The winds are a future. It is a south-westerly. Is little milder

than lately. Rains clinging to Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. After a

cold morning in the north-east of Scotland, the temperatures there

are struggling at four Celsius. Bursts of rain into the west of

Scotland. There is more rain for Northern

Ireland overnight and tomorrow. Mainly in Wales, a cloudy afternoon

with drizzle, but remember the satellite picture, a finger --

fingers crossed for a few holes there.

Despite the cloudy conditions, it is milder. There are outbreaks of

light patchy rain to clear from the south-east and East Anglia. Then it

will leave a legacy of cloud a misty night with hill fog. By

contrast, the breeze is there and the winds becoming more persistent

in Northern Ireland and Scotland, but the temperatures are not as

cold as the night that has passed. They are 10 to 11 Celsius.

The weather front is to stay in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It

means rain for Tuesday and Wednesday. The winds are still a

feature too. Away from the west- facesing -- west-facing coasts.

Still a milder feel to things. There could be significant totals

in temperatures before the frontal system clears. It is there to the

far north and the west on Wednesday. The best of the sunshine in the

south. Then a little question mark for the end of the week. There

could be a problem with low cloud Ending on a positive being a little

milder than lately. .$$RAISE Before we go, a reminder

of the top story: The Government questions the size of the pay-off