10/10/2013 BBC News at Six

Millions of households face higher energy costs - SSE pushes up its

prices by more than 8%. With winter on the way other energy companies

are likely to raise their prices leaving some customers struggling.

I can't see where this is going to end. It's just going to go up and

up, squeezing your weekly budget, your monthly budget.

But SSE says green taxes add to their costs - we'll get political

reaction. Also tonight: Small investors are favoured in the Royal

Mail sell off - but critics say the business is being sold cheap.

Thousands join prayers for the Leicester mother and three children

who died in a house fire. Britain's final military mission to

Afghanistan - the Desert Rats arrive in Helmand.

A British breakthrough in the search for a cure to diseases like

Alzheimer's. Good evening and welcome to the BBC

News at Six. Hard-pressed families face another

hike in their bills as the energy company SSE announced a sharp

increase in its gas and electricity prices. From mid-November the

average price of gas and electricity will rise by 8.2%. The changes will

affect 4.4 million electricity customers and 2.9 million gas

customers. It means the company's typical dual-fuel energy bill will

rise to nearly £1,400 a year. SSE say the Government's green taxes are

partly to blame, as our Industry Correspondent John Moylan reports.

Like many people, Gary from Somerset is finding it difficult to make ends

meet. SSE customer the eight, he faces the prospect of higher energy

bills. I cannot see where this is going to end. It is going to go up

and up, squeezing your monthly budget. Salaries and wages are not

keeping pace with it. It is harder every week and this is not going to

help. SSE is the first of the big suppliers to increase prices this

year. The rise is 8.2% on average for a typical dual fuel bill paid by

direct debit. But there will be regional variations. The lowest is

the 7-point rise in the north. And the highest will be in the

south-east. It is mostly outside the energy companies control. It is the

cost of getting the energy to people 's homes, the cost of buying it on

the global market and the government charges. He means renewable energy

like wind farms or improving the energy efficiency of our homes. SSE

once this funded by direct type site -- taxation. All sides know the cost

of living in general and energy -- taxation. All sides know the cost

prices are sensitive issues for voters. The government says it is

legislating to ensure we are all on the lowest tariff, but Labour has

promised to freeze prices and today accused the government of not doing

enough. Companies are putting up prices because we have a broken

energy market and they are ripping off consumers. This latest example

shows why the government needs to act. Companies are blaming everybody

else, the government blames everybody else. They are responsible

because they are not getting a grip. The government says Labour's

price freeze is a con. The Prime Minister insisted the government

would do what it could. We need to have a balanced energy policy in

this company, nuclear power and renewables. Some of those subsidies

are necessary. But as soon as those companies can pay for themselves

are necessary. But as soon as those those subsidies could not be

therefore one logo than necessary. As stormy weather hit parts of

Britain today, X Burns warned other suppliers will raise their prices

too. -- experts. It looks like most of us will be paying more for energy

this winter. Our Deputy Politcial Editor is in

Westminster. I guess some people will say this is the kind of thing

Labour has been warning about? Timing is important in politics.

Labour have a timely response. Maybe time and energy company raises its

prices, Labour will repeat its promise to freeze those prices. It

puts the government in a tricky position. The government says, what

matters most is the economy. That is a general response to a specific

issue. They then move on to say we don't think the policy of freezing

prices will work, it is a con. But that is not an alternative holiday.

Ministers note they need to come up with their own policy to reduce this

energy crisis. All eyes in Whitehall are on those costs placed on energy

bills through subsidies through renewable energy. The focus at the

moment is on eco-, the energy company obligation which forces

energy companies to increase insulation. That will take time and

the Lib Dems are reluctant. In the meantime, Labour will make their

case and the government will keep taking the flak.

And there's more on the cost of energy and what you can do reduce

bills on the BBC News website. The Government has release detailed

of its Royal Mail share offer. Small investors have been favoured -

everyone who applied for shares up to £10,000 will get the minimum

amount - £750 worth. But those who applied for more than £10,000 will

end up empty-handed. Amid huge public demand, critics say the

end up empty-handed. Amid huge Government's offer was far too

cheap. Our Personal Finance Correspondent, Simon Gompertz

reports. The sale has turned into a

stampede, around £30 billion from investors were chasing pillar

boxes, bands and the rest of the neighbour, said the government is

rationing the shares. The price is at the top of the range at 300 and

30p. Everyone who applied will get £750 worth, the minimum you could go

for. But not those who asked for more than £10,000 worth. They

received nothing. We are not interested in quick killings, that

is not what it is about. The idea is creating a stable, long-term

investment base so this company can move forward and invest and draw on

private capital and provide the universal service obligation to the

public. This man is one of 690,000 small investors who are getting

shares. He is pleased he is getting £750 worth out of the £2000 he

applied for. A lot of people who applied the £10,000 of shares, might

be more experienced and wealthier. But people like me, we can

advantage. There has not been such a scramble for privatisation shares

since the BT sell off or the British Gas sale soon after. Addictions are,

at the Royal Mail price will jump. Should it have been set higher? The

rush for the shares and the possibility the price might shoot up

has raised the question as to whether Royal Mail is being sold off

to cheap and whether the taxpayer is being short-changed. Yet another

well-respected analyst in the city has said they think Royal Mail has

well-respected analyst in the city been undervalued right up to 80%.

This is looking like a botched privatisation. But the sorting and

delivery of this sale has been in months in the planning, so city

experts say it is not surprising if the prize is out of date. They will

not get it absolutely right, things could happen overnight which could

ring it back to this sort of price. The test will be over the next few

months to see where the share price is then and we will have a good idea

of what Royal Mail is worth. Where the prize goes depends on what

staff, who have £2000 of free shares each and what investors do with

their allocation when trading starts in the morning. Do they take a quick

profit or hold on for the long term? Scientists have, for the first time,

shown that it is possible to stop brain cells dying as a result of

degenerative disease. The study in mice could have implications for

patients with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease but scientists

stress that it could be many years before it could lead to potential

treatments. Here's our medical correspondent Fergus Walsh.

This laboratory mouse has a brain disease which is gradually

destroying its coordination. See how it struggles to right itself. Now

contrast it with another mouse which has been given a compound which is

protecting it rained tissue and stopping neurons from dying. This

medical research Council study in Leicester is being seen as

potentially highly significant by those investigating human brain

diseases. Our ageing population means neurodegenerative diseases are

affecting more people. Around half a million have Alzheimer's. Then there

is Parkinson 's and the devastating condition, Huntington's. Scientists

believe they could be a common mechanism, mainly the build-up of

abnormal proteins in the brain. It triggers a natural defence response

which shuts down protein production, but it leads to cells dying. The

mice were given a compound which but it leads to cells dying. The

reactivated protein production. This gives scientists a new target for

tackling brain disease. But the human brain is far more complex than

that of a mouse. It is simply too early to say whether this one study

will ever lead to new drug treatments. We must be cautious.

This is early-stage research and we need to do a whole lot more research

to understand what this means. But to turn it into a potential new

drug, testing clinical trials to see if it is safe for people with the

condition. Although he can still play the piano, 84-year-old Dominic

can no longer care for himself. Alzheimer's is robbing him of his

ability to think and act independently. We are all living

longer. More people will be diagnosed with Alzheimer's or other

forms of dementia. If there is something that can help, that can

stop the brain dying, it would be amazing. Yes. Any practical benefits

are probably a decade or more away. Only then will we know if this

research marks a turning point in the fight against brain disease.

Employers, landlords and high street banks could take part in checks for

illegal immigrants under proposals in the new Immigration Bill.

Temporary migrants such as overseas students would have to pay a fee for

NHS treatment. Critics say the bill will penalise those who have a

genuine right to live in the UK. Our Home Editor Mark Easton reports.

There is the public disquiet that illegal immigrants and foreign

criminals are abusing British public services and making a mockery of the

courts. For the government, there are strong political and electoral

reasons for taking a tough line on immigration. This bill makes it

harder for people who are here illegally to carry on living in the

UK. Access to the things people have and use on a day-to-day basis like

driving licences and bank account will become harder. One proposal is

landlords should check the immigration status of prospective

tenants. The idea is to make Britain a more hostile place for illegal

immigrants. But some fear the proposal will see a return to the

discrimination experienced by ethnic minorities trying to get houses in

the 50s and 60s. Meli landlords oppose the plan saying it won't

work. How often will we have to check the documentation of tenants?

Every six months? What do we do if the immigration status of the tenant

changes? Who do we go to? Another public concern is foreigners are

abusing the health service. The government wants migrants coming to

Britain for more than six months to contribute £200 towards possible NHS

care. Some worry this extra charge will put off valuable overseas

students, or foreign workers who already make a contribution through

the taxes they pay. Making it easier to deport foreign criminals by

the taxes they pay. Making it easier hearing legal appeals after they

have left the country is an idea that almost certainly be the subject

of a legal challenge. But the government is determined to

streamline procedures. The government will improve rules with

the changes they are talking about. But they will need to improve the

Borders agency and improve how the authorities manage these cases as

well. This is the latest in a series of immigration initiatives, design

to demonstrate the government is responding to concerns. But there is

a balance to be struck. Measures to catch illegal immigrants and foreign

health tourists could mean more bureaucracy for British citizens.

Targeting illegal people could mean banks demanding to verify a status

before opening an account. Driving licences not being issued until

checks have been made. Being asked to prove our right to be here may

become an everyday experience for all of us. The Northern Ireland

Secretary, Theresa Villiers, has described the murders of two men in

Londonderry and Belfast in 24 hours as "abhorrent and brutal crimes." A

man was shot dead at a flat in Derry city centre this morning. In a

separate incident, the body of another man, who had also been shot,

was found yesterday in a lake in Belfast.

Thousands of people have attended prayers in Leicester for a mother

and her three children who died in a house fire last month. Seven people

have been arrested and a further suspect is being questioned over

what police believe was an arson attack. Sian Lloyd sent this report.

They came in their thousands. They came to pray and to remember four

lives lost. Shenila Taufiq, a wife and mother. Her daughter,

19-year-old Zainab, and her sons, Bilal and Jamal, 17 and 15. They

died in the early hours of September the 13th in a fire at their family

home which police say was started deliberately. Husband and father, Dr

Muhammad Taufiq Al Sattar, was working in Dublin when the tragedy

happened. I am not angry, my heart is broken.

I cried today. I carried the coffin of my family.

Over the past four weeks, he has been supported by the local

community. Today is a very sad day because they

are saying goodbye. Everybody at the mosque is

supportive. Everybody at the mosque is

He is taking his family back to Dublin to be laid to rest.

Our top story this evening. Higher fuel costs for millions, as energy

firm SSE put prices up by an average of 8%.

And still to come: Players under pressure, as England face a crucial

World Cup qualifier. In sport, the slide continues for

the former world number one as Roger Fedor is knocked out of the Shanghai

Masters in the third round -- Roger Federer.

It is the last major British military mission to Afghanistan. The

Seventh Armoured Brigade, the famous Desert Rats, begin a nine-month

deployment today. Since 2001, 444 British personnel have been killed

in Afghanistan. Of those, all but five of the 439 have died in the

country's Helmand Province. The UK is due to pull its combat troops out

of by the end of next year, so the Desert Rats' main task is to wind

down the British presence. David Loyn reports from Helmand's Camp

Bastion. A lone piper in the Afghan desert

has alts -- heralds the arrival of the Desert Rats. If -80 years after

they won their main in North Africa. This is a very different brigade,

packing up to finish the mission on timetable next year. Almost all

British bases have been handed over to Afghan control. President cars I

's comments this week, that NATO troops have wrought only suffering

's comments this week, that NATO to Afghanistan, have not been

repeated to British soldiers -- have brought only. The country is not

recognisable and what the outcome do -- Afghan people do is up to them.

Can the British Army and proud of -- Afghan people do is up to them.

their legacy? Very definitely. The British public are proud of the

courage and sacrifice of the Armed Forces and they should also be proud

of their achievements. I was on the streets eight years ago

on the January morning British soldiers first set foot in Helmand.

What do you think of the atmosphere? Everybody has been really friendly,

they are happy to see the British. How different now when we travel in

a heavily armoured vehicle. On our way to see a court, better justice

is something Britain has promoted but it feels remote from the people

outside. We watched the case of somebody

convicted in what looked like proper justice not available under the

Taliban for biting a man 's ear in a fight so he needed six stitches.

The chief justice said security does not now depend on British troops.

But outside his court, security felt more in the balance.

This man said Afghan police were not good enough to keep order when the

British leave. Helmand certainly feels different now to when British

troops arrived. Girls schools closed under the Taliban are now so forward

troops arrived. Girls schools closed they cannot keep up with demand,

many classes are held in tents. -- on now so full up. But as the long

war enters its final phase, searching questions are being asked

about whether it has been worth the searching questions are being asked

huge cost and lost of -- and loss of lives since British troops first

walked out of here believing they were welcome.

Plans by the Scottish government to create a North Sea oil fund if the

country became independent have been cast into doubt by its own advisers.

An internal report, released under Freedom of Information rules, said

that an independent Scotland would be in a challenging financial

position and excess money would be needed to support public services

and pay off debt. James Cook is at Holyrood.

What is the reaction to this? Basically, there has been a row. The

oil industry pays millions in tax but what do you do with that money?

There are roughly things, you can spend it on public services,

invested in an oil fund or use it to pay down the national debt. Last

week, the Scottish government suggested it might be possible to

invest it in the oil fund while still paying down the national debt.

It has emerged last year, their own economic -- economic adviser said

It has emerged last year, their own that might not be viable and there

has been a big row this afternoon. The Labour leader accused Alex

Salmond of dishonesty and she was forced to withdraw that remark in

Parliament, but the row continues and is likely to go on because

nobody knows whether or when Scotland would be able to set up an

oil fund because you cannot predict future interest rates. But the row

oil fund because you cannot predict is likely to continue.

It is a case that has put the spotlight on Northern Ireland's

abortion laws. Officials have been asked to look into the case of a

pregnant woman who had to travel to England to terminate a pregnancy,

even though doctors had said the baby had no chance of survival.

Sarah Ewart's unborn child had a rare foetal abnormality, but

guidelines in Northern Ireland do not allow abortions on those

grounds. Chris Buckler reports. Sarah travelled to London from her

home in Northern Ireland not for a weekend break but to have an

abortion. The baby she is carrying has serious foetal abnormality is

and she has been told it will die before, it on or shortly after

birth. In Northern Ireland, she is not allowed to terminate the

pregnancy but in other parts of the UK, she is.

It is not something I would ever have dreamt of.

She is allowing her journey to be filmed because she believes it is

wrong she has had to leave the filmed because she believes it is

support of her doctors and family to have the abortion.

The baby I am carrying has no life. There is no rain, there is no

school. -- brain. What makes you an individual is not there. I would

school. -- brain. What makes you an rather have the memory of seeing it

move on-screen and having a heartbeat and to see the end.

The subject of abortion is extremely a motive across Ireland. There are

regular pro-life protests outside family planning clinics and private

clinics that offer advice. But the law is very strict, it says it is

unlawful to perform a termination unless it is necessary to preserve

the life of the pregnant woman, or if there is a risk of a real and

serious adverse affect. The law surrounding abortion in Northern

Ireland has been debated many times as Parliament Buildings in Stormont.

But it is a practical reality of that guidance and legislation on

families that has brought this issue into focus.

I am opposed to abortion on demand but we cannot ignore the voices that

are speaking. In respect of the pain and the trauma and the anxiety

somebody goes through who is carrying a baby they know cannot

live outside of the womb. But unless there is a change in law,

those women will say -- will face the same difficult journey to

England. The Indian cricket legend Sachin

Tendulkar is to retire from the game after playing his 200th Test next

month. Tendulkar, who is 40, made his debut for India when he was just

16. He holds the record for the highest number of runs in both Tests

and One Day Internationals. He is the only batsman in cricket history

to reach 100 international centuries.

England play Montenegro tomorrow, a crucial match in which they could

take a huge step towards qualifying for the World Cup in Brazil next

year. But new research by the BBC suggests the pool of players on

which England managers can pick a successful team has got smaller and

smaller, with the influx of foreign successful team has got smaller and

players into the Premier League. Our chief sports correspondent, Dan

Roan, has been looking at the figures.

England are approaching the endgame, five days to shape their destiny.

The choice is simple, march towards five days to shape their destiny.

Brazil or turn around and walk away from the greatest tournament of

their lives. Just fear play a role on missing out of something like a

Brazil World Cup? I do not think so. We have never discussed not

qualifying. Within the camp, we are convinced we are a good team and

good enough to qualify and with two home games, we are convinced we will

do the job. So words like fear or anxiety or concern have not really

crossed our minds. This is what is at stake, a World

Cup in Brazil. England lead back-up but must beat Montenegro or Poland

to be certain of qualification. As usual, England are under huge

pressure to deliver they go into these matches knowing the

opportunities for home-grown players to break into the top teams limited

like never before. -- Limited. A study shows English football --

English but always account for less than a third of those who laid in

the Premier League less than six seasons ago. Top-flight action from

footballers outside the UK has climbed to 60% although there are

footballers outside the UK has opportunities at a lower level, .

--. FHM and Greg Dyke says quotas will be considered and the England

captain today agreed. We have to give a time, it will not

happen overnight. I read something about he is trying to half the

number of foreigners are allowed in the country and that is a good

start. A task force has been set up to and

almost half a century of World Cup hurt and one of those tasked with

this says there is no easy fix. The number-1 criteria is for kids to

master the four all first, that has to be the number one. -- has to

master the game. It has not been for 30 years.

Roy Hodgson could reach the World Cup and keep his job, but the future

for England managers looks set to become even harder.

Time for a look at the weather. It seems we are ending the week in

early winter and we started in early summer. The cold air has been

building to the North and towards Greenland, the blue has been getting

colder, with -12 degrees typical here. In the last 24 hours, that

cold air has decided to flood South. We are not going to get to -12, but

a shock to the system over the last 24 hours is the blue has flooded

down across the UK. Not helped by the strength of the wind and that

cold winter continue -- wind will continue. The strongest wind is

across eastern parts of England, owing a gale, up to 60 mph. --

blowing. Heavy showers and some will work inland. With clearer skies and

lighter winds across Northern Ireland and western Scotland, we

will see the lowest temperatures and possibly frost. A cold beer and

night nationwide. Tomorrow, the sunshine to the West. -- it will be

night nationwide. Tomorrow, the a cold night nationwide. Persistent

rain setting in across the South East of England later in the

afternoon. The best of the weather towards the North and West. Western

Scotland and Northern Ireland to doing well, it will not be warm but

brightness makes a difference. Western fringes of England and Wales

will see fine weather, quite breezy, but the Clodius and windiest weather

will be further East across England and Wales. Showers around and more

persistent rain was set in, wet and still very windy. A gale blowing

through the Straits of Dover. Wet weather spurting -- spreading in

across Saturday, the best weather again across the North and West.

That is all, it is goodbye from me and we