31/03/2017 BBC News at Six

No talk on trade until you've agreed to pay for the divorce -

the EU rejects the government's Brexit plan.

As guidelines are issued for the EU's Brexit strategy, it

Talks which are about to start will be difficult, complex

Here, hotels and restaurants warn immigration rules after Brexit

We'll be looking at what today's draft EU guidelines tell us

Why improvements in A and cancer care in England could mean longer

The beetles, bugs, birds and bees, the beetles and the bugs -

a multimillion pound plan to save Britiain's most

And a Scotsman pays a flying visit to the newly reopened Settle

And coming up on BBC News, will Celtic be celebrating a sixth

straight Scottish title by the end of the evening?

If Aberdeen fail to win tonight, Celtic will be champions again.

Good evening and welcome to the BBC News at Six.

The EU has asserted its control over the Brexit negotiations,

by publishing its draft guidelines for the talks ahead.

It has rejected the government's plan to negotiate a trade deal

at the same time as the price to be paid for leaving the EU.

The guidelines state that only when there has been what it calls

"sufficient progress" on the separation settlement,

They also say establishing the future status of EU citizens

living in the UK is a priority, along with keeping open

Northern Ireland's borders with Ireland.

Our Europe Correspondent, Damian Grammaticus, has more.

After all the shadow-boxing, now coming into focus the EU's terms for

Brexit. They are guidelines for now, but Donald Tusk made clear the EU

will insist the UK sorts out its exit arrangements first. So an

outline agreement on citizens rights, on financial liabilities,

before anything else. While stand only whilst we have achieved

sufficient progress on the withdrawal, can we discuss the

framework for future relationship. Starting parallel talks on all

issues at the same time, as suggested by some in the UK, will

not happen. So the EU is explicitly rejecting Theresa May's position. No

trade talks at first, future ties only outlined during a second phase

of negotiations. No special access for industries like cars and

banking. The EU excludes a sector by sector approach to its single

market, and the transition would be under EU rules, UK required to

accept existing union structures. Transition periods mean that you are

still a member, or at least you still have access to a membership

situation. If you have such an access, it is obvious, it goes

without saying, that the institutions would have all agreed

upon the need to govern that period. There have been months of

preparations and lobbying to draw up these guidelines. UK citizens living

in the EU, EU citizens living in the UK worried about losing their

rights, met the EU's chief negotiator. They are the top

priority in the exit deal. Ireland has been pressing its case about the

Irish border, without damaging the peace process. Gibraltar is a

surprise inclusion as a result of Spanish lobbying. The EU says no

future trade deal can apply to Gibraltar unless Spain agrees. This

will require the agreement of 27 members. If that was a shock for the

Foreign Secretary, he didn't show it as he arrived for a meeting at Nato

HQ. He sought to calm fears the UK might Thai security into the deal.

The security of this region, Europe, is unconditional. It is not some

bargaining chip in any negotiations that may be taking place elsewhere

in this capital. Now Article 50 has been triggered, it is the EU who can

determine what about these negotiations. They want to control

not just the sequence, but what the UK can achieve, too.

Hotels, restaurants and the tourism industry warned today, that they'll

face a recruitment crisis if EU immigration is heavily restricted

The British Hospitality Association says it relies on 60,000

EU workers a year, and it will take a decade to recruit

enough British workers to fill those posts.

Our Economics Editor, Kamal Ahmed, reports

The hospitality sector, holiday parks, restaurants, hotels, is all

about entertainment, making customers happy. But this is a

sector with its fair share of worries, as Brexit approaches. It

has relied for years on workers from the EU. Could that supply be about

to the cut off? Agni skits from Poland and works for buttons in

Bognor be to. She is concerned about her future. There are lots of

questions. My son is eight. He knew just the basic thing about the

Brexit. But he is concerned that he will have to leave his school, that

he will have to leave his friend. The hospitality industry employs 3

million people and is the sector in the UK. Of those workers, 24% are

from the EU. In some sectors the figure is higher, 75% of all waiting

staff are from the continent. I asked the Butlins boss about the

challenges are relying on EU immigration. If the tap is turned

off straightaway, that would be very difficult. We are where we are at

the moment. We rely on a third of our work base from European

employees. To turn that straight off and replace it straight off would be

very difficult. More than 60% of voters here voted to leave the

European Union. At least part of the reason while concerns about

immigration, one of the big unresolved issues in these Brexit

negotiations. Theresa May knows she has to achieve a delicate balancing

act between responding to those concerns, but at the same time

allowing businesses to hire the workers they need. Whether it's copy

shops, hotels that rely on foreign staff or pulling a point in your

local pub, this is a sector facing criticism. It's not doing enough to

train British workers and pay is too low. It is kind of laziness for them

to say that if they are not able to recruit migrant workers, there is

going to be a crisis for the industry. It is a crisis of their

own creation. They need to be focusing on, how do they actually

get people to calm into the industry? The hospitality sector

says it is looking to new horizons, looking for the British workers it

needs. But it will be a long process, ten years before a reliance

on millions of EU workers is turned around. Kamal Ahmed, BBC News.

Nicola Sturgeon has ratcheted up the pressure on the Prime Minister

today on another front, by sending a letter

demanding the power to hold a second referendum.

Our Scotland Editor, Sarah Smith, is in Edinburgh tonight.

Has there been any answer to the letter?

We have not heard yet from the Prime Minister. The Scottish Conservatives

have said they think plans Nicola Sturgeon have set out our own wanted

and unworkable, repeating the Prime Minister's view that there cannot be

a referendum until after the UK has left the EU and voters have a chance

to see how Brexit plays out. The First Minister disagrees. She says

in the letter that there is no rational reason to block a

referendum. But of course she knows what the answer will be. She even

anticipates that by saying in the letter, in anticipation of your

refusal to enter into discussions. She goes on to say, if and when that

happens, she will set out what other steps she might take. What can she

do? One option is to try and delay the progress of the Great Repeal

Bill, the legislation in Westminster that will bring back powers from

Brussels to the UK. To get that through, there will probably have to

be legislation passed in the Scottish parliament. If they refuse

to do that, that could delay the process of the Great Repeal Bill,

even though it may not derail it entirely. That is one option. We

know Nicola Sturgeon will do pretty much what he can to try and keep the

pressure on Number 10, to get them to start talking about when there

could be another Scottish referendum. Sarah Smith, thank you.

Our Deputy Political Editor, John Pienaar,

Nicola Sturgeon is trying to increase the pressure on Mrs May.

Is the Prime Minister likely to stick to her guns on not

contemplating a second referendum until after Brexit?

You can bet that she will. Downing Street is saying Theresa May will

respond in due course. Her answer is more predictable than even Donald

Tusk's answered Britain earlier today. No referendum, no

negotiations on a referendum until Brexit is complete. That will mean

month after month of a struggle first Scottish public opinion above

all else. In that time, of course, the progress of the talks on

Britain's future outside the European Union could turn out to be

important in tilting the balance. The EU clearly trying to put itself

in the driving seat as far as the negotiations are concerned.

What's the response in Downing Street tonight,

Number 10, no minister, really expected Donald Tusk is to be

encouraging. He was not encouraging. The government, Downing Street,

government ministers, they are being cool and calm, essentially marking

time and hoping somehow to influence the direction of those negotiations

later on. As for the points raised by Donald Tusk, ministers are

privately confident that they can secure the future of EU nationals in

this country now, just as the future of Brits on the continent will be

secured in those negotiations come and do so quickly. The budget

contribution of Britain is the knotty problem. Any big payment

would meet a wall of resistance from Conservative Party hardliners at

Westminster. You could easily see a deadlock developing. After all of

those promises about taking back control, repairing the public for

the giver as well as the take of those negotiations, could turn out

to be as tough as anything. John Pienaar, thank you.

Waiting times will be longer for routine operations,

such as hip and knee replacements, as a trade off for improvements

in A performance, and better treatment in other areas,

according to the head of NHS England.

Simon Stevens outlined the two year plan for the NHS -

focusing on improving cancer care, boosting mental health services

and better access to GPs - but said choices had

to be made because of increasing patient demand.

Our Health Editor, Hugh Pym, reports.

The NHS serves patients from cradle to grave but there are difficult

choices. The message today is it offers high quality care in many

areas but something has to give. That is waiting lists for routine

surgery for patients like Christine. She waited 22 weeks from heart

bypass, longer than NHS England's 18 weeks target. It has caused a lot of

anxiety and she has decided to go private. The sword of Damocles

hanging over my head, because I couldn't plan my life, I couldn't

say categorically I am going to be able to do something. I feel I am

getting, not worse, but more tired. There has definitely been a change

in me since I had the diagnosis. The head of NHS England explained his

immediate priorities, including A and cancer care, to help staff

today. But waiting lists for routine operations will for a while get

longer. Might more patients be waiting longer and might they be

very disappointed? We need to fix the most urgent problems first. And

I think most people can see that ensuring that our A and GP

services are able to properly look after people across the country that

has got to be the top priority. And then having done that, obviously in

the period ahead we want to be able to ensure we make -- meeting the

waiting time guarantees. But that has worried some medical leaders,

who say longer waits for operations can be dangerous. We know that

people occasionally Dai Young waiting lists waiting for heart

surgery. The longer you wait, the more the likelihood that will

happen. This health centre where Mr Stevens was today provides a range

of services and treatments to patients. Their results or a dentist

and pharmacist, as well as GP practice. The idea is to treat as

many people as possible away from hospitals. He wants to see more of

this kind of thing around the country but that will take time. It

will also take time to improve the nation's health. But they are

starting young that schools in Lancashire. Children run the daily

mile. The idea came from the NHS. An example of prevention that could

reduce the future burden on the health service. We know we want to

change things for the future generation. We don't want people to

be dying of heart disease in their 50s. We want to tackle some of the

major stuff we're seeing around diabetes. We have built a fantastic

partnership with schools and we encourage kids to be active. It is

both young and old when it comes to improving health in Lancashire. This

scheme helps older men who may be isolated and vulnerable to health

problems, a sense of purpose which helps their well-being. It is part

of a plan among those hailed today as the way forward. The rewards will

come in the future. It will not help to repair the NHS's immediate

problems. The head of NHS England is not

asking for more money, but he's showing the kind

of tough choices necessary That is basically absolutely right.

Simon Stevens is saying, this is what we can do with the resources we

have. And yes, we can invest more in cancer treatment and diagnosis. Yes,

more money can go into mental health after years of decline. Those are

the positives. But hard choices have to be made. Trade-offs. What slips

is the waiting times for routine surgery. You have to remember that

Simon Stevens clashed publicly with Downing Street a couple of months

ago over money and the suggestion he didn't get the money he needed at

the time of the last Spending Review. He was very diplomatic today

and didn't make a case for more money. I think he feels he has to

keep his powder dry on that one, despite repeated questions. He said,

we are getting on with what we have got and making efficiency savings.

It didn't kill off the idea that there might at some stage beat

requests for further cash for the NHS.

The EU tells Britain no talks on trade deals before

The new assistant taking Doctor Who in a different direction.

Coming up in Sportsday on BBC News...

Johanna Konta beats Venus Williams to become the first British woman

And she will climb to seventh in the world if she wins it

It's one of the most ambitious conservation projects

of its kind in Britain, and aims to save 20 species

Creatures such as the black click beetle, shrill carder bee

The Back From The Brink campaign is launched today -

an ?8 million scheme backed by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

And it's hoped thousands of people will volunteer to help.

Duncan Kennedy is at a wildlife sanctuary

They're really has never been a project quite like this before. The

aim is to save 20 of the most endangered species in the country,

including the natterjack toad. Is the problem for beautiful creatures

like this is a face pressures from things like farming practices,

house-building and the like gobbling up their habitats. Now more than 30

organisations have come together to bring them back from the brink.

They're the most striking, the most elusive and the most

But today, 20 of them, including the grey long-eared bat,

have become part of a project to save them.

Jenny Clarke, who has protected bats for 30 years,

is among those behind the campaign called Back From The Brink.

If this one were to go to extinction, what would that mean

It would be an appalling loss and a great tragedy.

We would be absolutely bereft if we lost the grey long-eared.

The natterjack toad is another facing extinction.

?8 million of Heritage Lottery and other funds has been

But the organisers say the public's help is vital.

The ambition is to involve 1.3 million people, engaged,

over 5000 volunteers actually going out, surveying,

So there will be lots of opportunities for the public

Here in Dorset, some of the first of those volunteers

This looks like a suitable area, here.

The public is needed to find and manage the threatened species.

I think they're important in ways that maybe a lot

And I think that overall they deserve to be kept the way they are.

The project aims to save everything from adders

Many put at risk by activities like house-building and farming.

But wherever they live, these creatures are vulnerable.

Unless the four year project works, some could end up beyond the brink.

The driver of a bin lorry that crashed in Glasgow, killing six

people, has been banned from driving for three years and ordered

to wear an electronic tag for a separate motoring offence.

Harry Clarke, who's 60, had his licence withdrawn

after the crash in December 2014, but was spotted by neighbours

A man has been charged with the murder of a mother and her

Tracey Wilkinson and her son Pierce were found stabbed

23 year old Aaron Barley has also been charged with the attempted

murder of the boy's father, Peter.

Teachers at Redhill School paid tribute to Pierce today,

saying he was a "loyal, caring and conscientious pupil".

The former US National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn,

has offered to testify to Congress about possible links

between the Trump campaign and Russia in exchange

Mr Flynn was sacked in February after misleading the White House

about a conversation he had with the Russian ambassador.

President Trump today said the investigation was a witch hunt.

Our North America Editor Jon Sopel is in Washington for us.

Mr Flynn's lawyer says his client has a story to tell.

We don't know whether he's got a giant tin of beans to spill, or

whether this is just a prudent act of self protection. As you can

imagine, there's a huge amount of speculation. The way the lawyer

phrased it suggests it's the former, there is a lot to tell. We have the

situation where the former National Security Adviser is out there

seeking protection. This is the same man who during the election campaign

was leading the chanting about Hillary Clinton, to lock her up over

a private e-mail server. I don't know if we are going through a spy

novel or modern morality tale. Some people are reacting and saying he

shouldn't be given legal protection. The chairman of the select

committee, said it was a brave and momentous step. Donald Trump has

said he's right to protection from this. This is the same Donald Trump

who during the campaign said, if you're not guilty of a crime, why do

you need immunity? The tenth series of

Doctor Who begins next month, and the Timelord,

Peter Capaldi, will be West End star Pearl Mackie will be

taking on the role of Bill - the first gay assistant

in the programme's history. She's been speaking

to our entertainment correspondent Lizo Mzimba,

about on-screen diversity in one For more than half a century,

Doctor Who has travelled Now the show is exploring

new territory. Actress Pearl Mackie

will be playing Bill Potts, her character will be the Doctor's

first openly gay companion. And, yeah, I think, you know,

it shouldn't be a big deal Yeah, I think within the series it's

not made a massive thing off. You know, our representation

matters, doesn't it, so... Why do you think keep

coming to my lectures? Her sexual orientation

is a significant step, particularly as the Doctor's

companion is a key aspirational figure for the show's younger

viewers. I hope it will help to push things

in the right direction and help to broaden the diversity

of race and sexuality. The show has had gay characters

in the past, including John Barrowman's Captain Jack,

but Bill Potts will be the first permanent,

full-time companion that's gay. The relatively unknown Pearl Mackie

recognises the huge career boost that being cast

in Doctor who carries. It's an amazing platform

for me to be able to... It would open a lot of doors that

might not necessarily Peter Capaldi, who plays the Doctor,

has said the new series The decision over his latest

companion's sexuality is likely to increase speculation

that the programme could break more boundaries by making

the next Doctor a woman. The Flying Scotsman was back on one

of Britain's most scenic tracks this morning, as it marked the re-opening

of the Settle-to-Carlisle rail line. The route was closed

by a landslip a year ago. Danny Savage is in Hellifield

in North Yorkshire. Danny, getting this section

of the line working again has been It has been a huge effort to get the

line working again. To underline it, in celebration, they have brought

arguably the most famous steam engine in the world to run up and

down today. People paying ?300 to be on board. It's taken many months of

effort and a lot of work to get the famous Settle to Carlisle railway

line open once again. One of the most famous names

in the world of steam on one of the most famous

railway lines in Britain. The Settle-Carlisle route runs

through the beautiful upland countryside of

Yorkshire and Cumbria. But, for 16 months, there's

been no through-traffic Today, the line reopened and

hundreds of people came along to see the celebratory service

and to breathe a sigh of relief. It's absolutely wonderful,

because it's my lifeline to get I'm a non-driver, but I do love

to escape to the shops Although this wonderful

old locomotive is attracting all the headlines today,

the big issue for the more remote communities along this line is that

they've got their main transport link back, and that means a return

of visitors and business. ?23 million has been

spent repairing the line. It's the biggest fix Network Rail

has ever undertaken, Built in the 1870s, threatened

with closure in the 1980s, this old-fashioned but much loved

railway route is open again. Time for a look at the weather.

Here's Darren Bett. This weekend, a new month, and the

best of the weather this weekend will be in the second half of the

weekend as we head into April. We will have a mixture of sunshine and

April showers on Saturday, and then it gets quite chilly overnight

before we have a fine and dry day just about everywhere on Sunday.

This picture was taken in Cumbria. We had some sunshine after the

morning rain cleared away. Still some rain wandering up to the

north-west of Scotland. Thickening cloud in Wales and the south-west

bringing some showery bursts of rain. It will be quite wet this

evening and overnight over western parts of England and Wales. Showers

for a time. Dry over Mehmet Scotland and the driest weather over eastern

England. A touch chillier than last night, nothing particularly cold. As

we head into tomorrow, some showers from the word go across the western

areas of England and Wales. Through the day, sunshine around and it will

develop more widely. Not much wind tomorrow. The showers could be heavy

and prolonged. The warm weather sun is out. Generally speaking

temperature is a bit lower than today. Around 13. To showers pushing

down across through Northern Ireland and developing across the mainland

of Scotland and again some heavy ones are likely here. They shouldn't

last too long into the evening and overnight, with a ridge of high

pressure building and things settling down. The weather fronts

keeping at bay for the time being. For the second half of the weekend,

we start on a chilly note. The numbers in towns and cities, a touch

of blue, touch of Frost in the countryside, especially in Ireland

and Scotland. Mainly dry day. Good spells of sunshine around. Wind will

be light. In the sunshine it should feel pleasantly warm and it might

get warm on Monday. That's all from the BBC News at Six,

so it's goodbye from me, and on BBC One we now join the BBC's

news teams where you are.