10/01/2013 BBC News at One

The great food waste. Up to 50% produced in the world is thrown

away. A new report says at least a billion tonnes goes to waste every

year, and attitudes must change. Pressure on two RBS bosses to

resign, as the bank faces multi- million pound fines over the Libor

fixing scandal. Seven prisons are to close, as the

Ministry of Justice unveils plans for a new super prison.

Relief for millions of pensioners, as officials decide not to change

the way we measure inflation. 150 years after London's first

underground railway line opened, a On BBC London: Will half a million

pounds persuade people in rural areas to accept new homes on their

doorsteps? And, how this symbol brings in �5

Good afternoon, and welcome to the BBC News at One.

The Royal Bank of Scotland is to be fined several hundred million

pounds over its handling of inter bank Libor rates. Our business

editor Robert Peston is in central London. Near how much will they be

fined? It will be considerably more than Barclays. UBS was fined �940

million. I am told that RBS is likely to pay fines in the US and

UK, probably a bit less than �940 million but it will still be a

substantial sum, Abid humiliation for an important bank. A bank owned

80% by tax payers, so painful for all of us. A scandal which keeps

unravelling? Yes, more than a dozen banks involved in the manipulation

of this interest rate. The Royal Bank of Scotland, the next one to

be named and shamed, probably in a couple of weeks. The other

important thing I have learned is that two senior RBS executives are

likely to quit as and when the finalisation of the decision of the

regulators, John Hourican and Peter Nielsen. To be clear, there is no

suggestion that they knew this market rigging was going on for

they remotely encouraged it, but they were brought in, in 2008,

after the crash, to fix the Investment Bank. Editors have found

that this market rigging was going on in 2010. So, personal

responsibility has to be taken, so the RBS board will determine that

these two should go. The biggest programme of prison

closures in England and Wales for decades has been announced by the

government, as part of its plans to reduce costs. Seven prisons across

England, described as old buildings and expensive to run, are to close.

The Ministry of Justice has unveiled plans to build a new super

prison which can hold two thousand inmates. Our home affairs

correspondent Tom Symonds reports. This is the biggest programme of

prison closures for years, it will shut the gate to some of our oddest

prisons including Canterbury in Kent which houses foreign inmates,

and Bullwood Hall, a medium- security prison in Essex. Six

entire prisons are closing plus one of the three amalgamated jails on

the Isle of Wight. The government says it is half as expensive to

keep prisoners in new prisons compared to older ones. I want to

be able to say to the court that whenever they want to send someone

to prison there is a place for that person. I do not want to shrink the

size of our prisons but it clearly has to become cheaper. The closures

are possible because pressure has eased slightly on Britain's prisons.

In 2007, a report predicted the prison population could rise if up

to 100,000 by next year. In fact, it is currently 84,000. Be two new

prisons opened last year. 2,600 places will go soon as all the

prisons close, to be replaced by 3260 places in new buildings.

Labour is concerned. There is a real risk taking away 3,000 places

within the next three months. There are no plans for others to come in

on stream. It has happened suddenly. Shrewsbury Prison is closing, and

staff got the news this morning that their jobs are going. Up to

half the food the world produces is never eaten and gets thrown away,

that's according to a new report. The Institution of Mechanical

Engineers says the waste is caused by poor storage, strict sell-by

dates, and consumer fussiness. It also says sales promotions such as

"buy-one-get-one-free" mean consumers buy too much food. It

costs the average UK household almost �500 a year. Jeremy Cooke

reports. Working flat out to meet a Global

Challenge, farmers across the world have been told to produce more food

to meet the demands of a soaring population. But too much of it end

up here, and today's report says up to half of world food production,

to be in terms of it is being thrown away. -- two billion tonnes.

There are claims that in the UK supermarket deals and their

rejection of not perfect produce is partly to blame. The report says

all of us need to think about food waste. In the developed economies

like the UK we need to change customer behaviour and stop

demanding perfect products. In the developing world it is about

improving infrastructure. Across Europe and America, it is

estimated half of food is thrown away after we buy it. The numbers

are staggering, they say it is unsustainable. All morning there

has been intense activity, dozens of these refuse trucks coming and

going. This plant processors 25 tons of food waste every day. It is

a similar picture in similar sites across the country. As well as this,

today's report claims many vegetable crops in the UK are

simply not harvested because they fail to reach strict visual

standards. In less developed countries, pour

half a sting, poor transport and lack of good storage means a huge

loss of food. In some countries, 80% of rice production is lost.

is tragic, so many people going hungry. We have the solutions, we

just need to tackle the problems. Strict sell-by dates don't really

help but this charity maybe the way Ford, delivering almost out-of-date

food to those who badly need it. More than 100 wildfires are still

raging across south eastern Australia, amid warnings that

temperatures are set to soar again. At least 15 bush fires in New South

Wales are still out of control. Some of the fires are so intense

that flames can be seen from space. Phil Mercer reports.

In the most appalling conditions, emergency crews are racing to

contain bush fires ahead of more very hot weather. These outbreaks

in southern New South Wales are an unpredictable enemy, acting on the

whim of the winds. Another colder date is helping the

fire-fighting efforts. It is run with military precision and relies

on the courage of thousands of volunteers. Their support is

critical. The bush fires in the south east have been burning for a

week. Further north, parts of Queensland have not been spared. A

blaze on Bribie Island has been brought under control but it has

taken a monumental effort for fire fighters to gain the upper hand.

Near by, the City of Brisbane sits under a smoky haze as Australia

wonders what will happen next. The heatwave which brought punishing

conditions to the south-eastern states earlier this week is

forecast to return within the next 24 hours. We are looking at

temperatures across most of New South Wales into the low forties

and extending into the high forties on Saturday. For some residents,

the potential dangers are too much. They have decided to abandon their

homes just in case. We have packed up all the things we can get in the

car and we're ready to go. Australia can expect above average

temperatures for the rest of the summer. Compounding the fire danger

created by a lack of rain across central and southern regions since

the middle of last year. For a Millions of pensioners, whose

income is linked to the RPI measure of inflation, will be relieved

after officials decided not to change the way it is measured. The

Office of National Statistics took many by surprise when they

announced they wouldn't be bringing it in line with the slower rising

consumer prices index. Our chief economics correspondent Hugh Pym

reports. How we measure the cost of living,

the annual inflation rate, is crucial for calculations across the

economy. One key indicator is the retail prices index which goes all

the way back to the late 1940s, the view is that today it will keep on

going after a review on how it is calculated. Inflation measured by

RPI has been higher than the other main bench marks, CPI. There have

been calls for reforms which would mean lower RPI. Over 20 years from

1990, RPI inflation averaged 3.3% the year whereas on the CPI index

it measured lower. No change means good news for pensioners whose

annual income is are linked to RPI. I certainly think if the decision

had gone the other way, pensioners would have been extremely upset

because of the impact on their pensions. Good news for pensioners

that their retirement income has will still continue to go up at the

higher rate. It is not good for rail travellers who could have seen

there were increases under a new measure, the same for students with

loans. Their repayments are dictated by RPI. In the City of

London, they are perplexed about this process. The Office for

National Statistics has recognised that the weight RPI it is

calculated is not up to international standards. And it

seems odd they have stuck with the statistics, which is considered not

to be fit for purpose. But they are balancing pragmatically the

considerations of index-linked bond holders and pensioners. It is not

the most accurate measure of inflation but we are sticking with

it to avoid disruption for those whose income has depend on it. The

Bank of England has kept interest rates unchanged at 0.5%. The rate

has remained the same since March 2009. The Bank also decided not to

extend its quantitative easing stimulus programme which has, so

far, injected �375 billion into the economy.

Five men charged with the gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old student

in Delhi have appeared in court again today. Legal officials say

the case will be transferred to a special fast-track court where it

will be heard in private. The Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy

Haywood has been accused of failing to "get to the truth" over the

Plebgate controversy. Members of a parliamentary select committee

repeatedly challenged Sir Jeremy over why he didn't carry our a more

thorough investigation into the incident, which led to the

resignation of the Chief Whip, Andrew Mitchell, in September. Our

political correspondent Norman Smith is in Westminster. He's come

under fire this morning. What did he have to say about it?

He rejected all the criticism of his inquiry but his evidence will

only fuel the view amongst Tory MPs that Andrew Mitchell may have lost

his job unnecessarily and Downing Street did not do enough to stand

by him. It transpired Sir Jeremy Haywood had seen the critical CCTV

footage challenging the police view of events then did nothing about it.

He did not demand to see the police log, he did not interview the

offices at the gate, he did not refer it up the chain of command.

The committee chairman said to him, you did not get to the truth. Sir

Jeremy Haywood said it would have been inappropriate to interview the

officers and stressed Andrew Mitchell had resigned. My sense is

many Tory MPs will think that if Sir Jeremy Haywood had carried out

for a more thorough inquiry, then Downing Street would have been in a

better position to resist the media storm and Andrew Mitchell might

still have a job. The great food waste, 50% produced

in the world is thrown away, a report says at least 1 billion

tonnes goes to waste every year. Warnings to companies who sell

double glazing and solar panels not The Chelsea have their work cut out

after their defeat at Swansea. If and school children in East

London get a taste of Inter Tesco has announced figures shows

the firms strongest growth rate for three years. Sales in the Christmas

period up 1.8% this time last year. Sales fell, prompting the issue of

a profit warning for the first time in 20 years. Marks & Spencer

reported a drop in sales after releasing Christmas figures. Our

Business Correspondent is here. Marks & Spencer first,

disappointing news for them? It is fair to say that Marks & Spencer

was one of the big losers this Christmas. In the three months

figures up to the end of December, the UK sales were down 1.8%. Food

held up well. It is what happened in non-food that proved

disappointing. That is women's wear and merchandise down by nearly 4%.

There is the figure. That is worse than expected. On top of that, the

figures were rushed out 12 hours earlier than expected. A very

unusual move that all adds to the pressure on the boss, Marc Bolland,

who has yet to deliver on turning around the ailing women's fashion.

It has been struggling, but retailing is not just about sales

but profits. So Marks & Spencer pointed out that the profit margins

had improved. They had not been doing so much promotional activity,

but the City gave its verdict and the shares were down nearly 5%.

Tesco, the share prices up? Yes, it had its strongest sales growth for

three years. The Christmas figures there are up 1.8%.

As you pointed out this time last year, it had issued a rare profits

warning after a really dire Christmas. Tesco had lost its way.

It is investing in stores, there is a turn around plan. So evidence

there of a recovery. Emma, thank you very much.

An independent review of academy schools in England said it heard

examples of some trying to improve results by restricting admissions

to privileged pupils, rather than than by improving teaching, but the

report by the Academies Commission said that the most successful had

raised standards in poorer areas. Academies were introduced by Labour

in 2002, amid political fanfare. The numbers have gone from hundreds

to thousands under the coalition. More than half of secondary schools

in England now have academy status. They operate outside of coupbl

control with extra powers over the curriculum and day-to-day

management. The Government says that will lead to higher standards.

The report concludes that some academies have been stunning

successes but there have been failures it highlights that the

complaints from parents that some are not practising fair admission,

squeezing out disadvantaged pupils to boost ruls. Campaigners against

the academies fear that the problem is getting worse.

Covert selection has been going on. There is no doubt. Covert selection

has been going on in other schools it is a problem in the system. It

needs serious attention. I think that it will get worse the more

academies that we have. The Academies Commission sees the

risks ahead but says that they can be reduced with safeguards.

Recommending more training for academy governors, more co-

operation between the higher achieving academies and other local

schools and a stronger right of appeal if children refused places.

Staff here at this London academy argue improvements have come

through better teaching. We don't cherry pick or select. Our

aim is to serve the local population nearest to the school.

To ensure that those children have the best teaching possible.

Government ministers insist that academies are bound by tough rules

on fair admissions. Those that underperform will be dealt with,

but as this new style of school spreads to yet more neighbourhoods,

the focus on its performance will increase.

In France, the bodies of three women have been found in central

Paris in what the police believe to be an execution-style killing. The

victims are thought to have been shot at point-blank range in the

Information Centre of Kurdistan. Three shell casings were found near

to the bodies. The police found the bodies at

2.00am beside shell casings in a locked room of the curbish

Institute. They were shot in the head. There is a sizeable Kurdish

community in France. These women were European activists in the PKK.

One of them, Sakine Cansiz, a founding member of the group, one

of the first women in the leadership.

TRANSLATION: She was an historic figure, she was tortured under the

military dictation in the 1980s. She was recognised as a political

refugee in France. The timing of the deaths fuels

suspicion. In the past week, the Turkish government confirmed it

held talks with the imprisoned leader of the PKK, Abdullah Ocalan,

to end a bitter insurgency at that began in 1984. The Turkish

intelligence service, said that the PKK would lay down arms in March in

return for the release of prisoners and improved human rights. Renewed

fighting in the south-east of the country has overshadowed the talks

and there are elements in Turkey opposed to future agreement.

Outside of the institute today, they were pointing the finger at

nationalists in Turkey. A ruling party there is pointing the figure

at internal feuds within the PKK. For the Paris authorities, the

investigation is focused on the politics. The Anti-Terrorist Branch

is leading the investigation. 50 companies that sell double

glazing insulation and solar panels are warned about using bad sales

practises. The Office of Fair Trading says it is worried about

people being put under pressure by sales teams to buy products, as

well as being given misleading information. This is happening at

time when people are under huge pressure to save energy? Yes,

heating bills have doubled in the recent years. So people are sitting

ducks. They are desperate to reduce the bills. They are vulnerable to

people who want to resort to these bad selling tactics. What the

Office of Fair Trading is concerned about is door stel selling. Many

things are -- is doorstep selling. People are put under pressure in

the homes, UUP to three hours, to get them to sign on the dotted line.

They are not told that they can cancel in seven days. Sometimes

they think that they are just signing a quote but signing a

contract. So people are misled. The sector of energy is worth about �17

billion in sales. There a big losses. A solar panel installation

costs up to �7,000. If you get the wrong one, you could lose out.

Now, 150 years ago London's first underground railway line eped up to

the pub. The Metropolitan Line had seven stations between Paddington

and Farringdon street. The carriages lit by gas lamps and

pulled by a steam engine. Last night, the locomotives were back on

track. Celebrating the oldest and biggest underground network.

Well, Farringdon station is where the first underground train stopped.

It had seven stations back then. Today's Tube carries 1.2 billion

people. The benefits are spread way beyond London it employs thousands

of people across Britain. Last night something special happened to

celebrate the Tube's birthday. There is no mistaking that sound...

Last night, a piece of history crept beneath London while the city

slept. A Victorian steam train, recreating the first underground

journey 150 years ago. This is what it must have been like for the

first Victorian passengers, who were impressed by how quiet and

clean it was. Sam Mullens, you are an historian it was a hit? Yes,

40,000 people turned up on the first day. Huge invasion was

putting it below the ground. People were concerned at the time that the

road would collapse in, that gases would choke them.

But it was a success from day one. Today's Tube carries 4 million

people every weekday. That is more than the rest of Britain's trains

put together. Her Majesty inspected the controls

of one of the line's 34 silver trains... 150 years and so many

stories. From the triumph of sheltering thousands in the Blitz

to the tragedies of the King's Cross fire and the July 7th

terrorist attacks. Today's Tube is in need of constant repair, but

there is huge investment too. Crossrail is Europe's biggest

building project. It will transform parts of the network.

In about three years' time this will be the new �1 billion

Tottenham Court Road station. Now the escalator are going up and down

that slope. About00,000 people a day are expected to come in through

there. It is not just about transforming

London. The whole country feels the benefit -- 200,000 people.

This is not just about creating jobs in London, although that is a

part of it, but it is about creating the jobs in Scotland where

we make the uniforms. Signalling in Chippenham. Trains manufactured in

Derby. The locomotive will recreate part

of the first journey this weekend. These tunnels may never echo to the

sounds of steam again. Now a few lucky people will get to

ride the steam train one more time this weekend. They had to enter a

ballot for the tickets. Needless to say, Sophie, all of the tickets are

now gone. Thank you very much.

In northern Canada, about a dozen killer Wales are trapped under a

stretch of sea ice in Hudson Bay. They are using a gap in the ice to

get air but experts say that they are in danger of finding air. The

local Mayor has called for the government to send an ice leaker to

create an escape route for the whales.

Now the weather here with Darren Now the weather here with Darren

Bett. A colder feel to the weather today.

It is cold where the fog is slow to clear. We wills have a good deal of

cloud around as well. Cloud is bringing wet weather in the north-

east of the UK. A cloud bringing rain into the Northern Ireland and

the West Country. There may be a little sunshine if you are lucky

but the fog in parts of Midlands and East Anglia could linger. As we

head into the evening there is more fog forming. Mainly in Northern

Ireland as the rain clears, that petering out in Wales and central

and southern England. East Anglia, north into eastern Scotland, more

damp weather, so the foggy conditions between. A little misty

in the morning. Over south-west England it should be drier in the

morning. Patchy fog for the south- east, but more for the Midlands to

the north-west, some cloud, not so much for the north. Northern

Ireland could abfoggy start in the east. The fog lifting to low cloud

in the west. The fog in the east coast of Scotland. So a cold start.

The frost not as extensive because of the cloud but a dull start in

many places. The fog will lift, but for eastern parts of England

Scotland, staying cold all day. In the west a little bit of sunshine,

especially Wales and the south-west of England where we have the

highest temperatures, but a cold four or five Celsius in the east.

Getting colder this weekend. The temperatures dropping and cold for

snow in places. The really colder is in the near Continent. The

frosty air pushing its way into the UK on the easterly breeze this

weekend. Adding to that on Saturday, an Atlantic low coming in. That

will bring rain where it meets the cold air coming from the east. Then

the rain turning to snow. Especially in Wales, over the hills,

into the Midlands, the Cotswolds and the Chilterns. There could be

snow at lower levels. In the north, the easterly breeze turning the

showers here wintry. The wetter weather in the south clearing by

Sunday morning, leaving icy conditions over many parts of the

UK. It is the east of England that sees the sleet and the snow showers.

In the north-west a mixture of rain, sleet and snow by the end of the

sleet and snow by the end of the day.

Now a reminder of the top story: A new report claims that up to 50% of