bbcuk--2020-07-16--Unemployment rate: How many people are out of work?

Jobs are being cut around the UK because of the impact of coronavirus , but the unemployment rate has remained unchanged .
However , the number of people claiming unemployment benefits surged to 2.6 million between March and June , according to official figures .
So what is going on in the UK 's labour market , and how bad is the unemployment rate ?
How many people are unemployed ?
Unemployment has always been difficult to measure .
One measure comes from the Labour Force Survey , which asks thousands of people every month if they are unemployed and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to calculate the unemployment rate , which has hardly budged in recent months .
At 3.9 % it 's close to the lowest it has been for 40 years , as if the current crisis never happened .
However , the figures are always a few months behind .
The July ones are based on responses from March to May - so some of the answers were gathered before the lockdown began .
Also , if you tell this survey that you are not looking for work , you will not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inactive '' .
In a lockdown , many people will not be able to look for new jobs .
So the number of inactive people who want a job rose by a record 253,000 .
Many of the people who told the survey they are employed are on furlough - where people stop working but keep their jobs , and the government pays part of their wages .
Latest figures show 9.4 million jobs had been furloughed by the end of June .
And the Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) identified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have a job but are not working or being paid - freelance bar staff , for example , who expect to return to work when their pubs reopen .
How many job vacancies are there ?
Other official data shows how coronavirus is beginning to affect the world of work .
The number of employees paying tax fell by 649,000 from March to June .
Average earnings fell , and the average number of hours people worked dropped by a record amount , according to figures for March to May .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falls since data was first gathered in 2001 .
Retail , restaurants and hotels were particularly hard-hit .
If that continues , the lack of new openings will make a big contribution to future unemployment .
Young people will struggle to get their first jobs , and workers who lose their jobs will struggle to find new opportunities .
How many people are claiming unemployment benefits ?
Over the past three months the number of people claiming out-of-work benefits more than doubled .
It reached 2.6 million in June - an extraordinary rise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May .
However , there are question marks over this number .
Benefit claimants are migrating to the new universal credit ( UC ) system .
Many groups which would not have been included before are listed as `` searching for work '' under UC and thus appearing in the claimant numbers .
For instance , some are working , but only earning small amounts .
Also , many workers may have made a UC claim before receiving support payments from the government .
These would have been under the Job Retention Scheme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of their wages , ) or the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme .
According to research from the Resolution Foundation think tank , these groups account for more than a quarter of the rise in claimant numbers .
Only 45 % of the rise in benefit claimants between March and May was down to newly unemployed people , it calculates .
The foundation calls the claimant count a `` poor barometer of unemployment '' , and the ONS does not list it as an official statistic any more .
What will happen to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheme ends in October - and employers will have to decide if they can afford to keep those workers or let them go .
That could see a big wave of unemployment in the autumn .
A survey in May by the Resolution Foundation found that a quarter of furloughed workers thought they were likely to be laid off .
The big job cuts announcements made by companies from the start of July wo n't come through in the official numbers for a couple of months at least .
Predicting what will happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published by the government 's spending watchdog , the Office for Budget Responsibility , give an official view of what might happen .
In its optimistic `` upside '' scenario , the unemployment rate peaks at 9.7 % this year , and returns to pre-crisis levels in 2022 .
In the `` downside '' scenario , it peaks at 13.2 % , in 2021 - 4 million people out of work .
It is still at 6.3 % by the end of this scenario in 2024 , still well above pre-crisis levels .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , benefits , what happens next ?
In some cases your question will be published , displaying your name , age and location as you provide it , unless you state otherwise .
Your contact details will never be published .
Please ensure you have read our terms & conditions and privacy policy .
Use this form to ask your question :

Unemployment: Who are the millions of Britons not working? Published 15 March
Image source, Getty Images
About a quarter of people of working-age - around 10 million people - don't currently have jobs.
In the Budget, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt set out a series of measures designed to encourage people to find work, or increase their hours.
How many people are unemployed?
Officially, about 1.3 million people in the UK were unemployed in December 2022: an unemployment rate of 3.7%, lower than any point since the 1970s.
But the unemployed represent only a small part of the 10 million working-age people (aged 16-64) who aren't in a paid job.
Nearly nine million of them aren't called "unemployed". That's because they're not actively looking for work, or available to start a job.
In fact, more of them say they want a job (1.7 million people) than are officially unemployed.
Who isn't working - and why?
The main reasons for not working vary according to age.
Most of the 2.7 million "inactive" people under 25 are students, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The majority of them don't want a job.
You can see that in the graphic below. Click on the darker border surrounding any age group to see the spilt between men and women.
Your device may not support this visualisation
Things are different in other age groups.
The main reasons that 3.5 million over-50s are out of the job market are illness and early retirement. Almost nobody who has retired early says they want to return to work.
Among 25- to 49-year-olds, 1.1 million people don't work because of caring responsibilities (about a million of whom are women).
About 940,000 people in this age group are not working because of illness (more evenly split between men and women).
Image source, Getty Images
Around half of people with disabilities don't have a paid job, a rate that's more than double the rest of the working age population.
About a quarter of those who are sick or caring say they want a job.
Does it matter that people aren't looking for work?
Many people have chosen to do something else: studying, retirement or caring.
But for others it's not a choice.
Some people can't afford childcare if they return to work, others are too sick, or have given up on finding a job.
As the chart below shows, sickness and caring responsibilities are the most common reasons for inactivity given by those who actually would like a paid job.
The number of people not working has a broader effect.
A smaller workforce means less tax to pay for services like the NHS, and greater spending on benefits.
Since people on benefits generally have less money to spend than those in work, it also means less spending on the high street.
That in turn is bad for businesses and how many people they want to employ.
In turn, that can affect how many jobs are available for those who are job hunting.
How does the UK compare with other countries?
During the pandemic, all major countries saw their workforce shrink.
But while most leading economies have since recovered, the UK still has about 400,000 more people not working than in December 2019.
A House of Lords report from December 2022 highlighted reasons including an increase in early retirement and rising levels of sickness.
Since its publication, the number of retirees has fallen back to pre-pandemic levels.
It also said there was a mismatch between available jobs and those that might, for instance, tempt someone out of retirement.
For example, the vacancy rate is highest in restaurants and hotels - an industry often offering shifts, physically-demanding jobs and low wages.
What can be done to get more people into work?
A series of reforms were announced in the Budget to help some people get jobs or increase the hours they work. The measures were particularly aimed at:
older workers
people on benefits
parents and carers of young children
those with health conditions
These include letting people save more in private pensions, extending free childcare and offering more support to help disabled people find paid employment.
Broadening the pool of people given support to return to the job market is key, experts argue.
Helen Gray from the Learning and Work Institute believes job centres should widen their focus and offer more tailored support.
At present, "only one in 10 out-of-work older people and disabled people get help to find work each year," she says.
Louise Murphy from the Resolution Foundation says ministers must look beyond those who left work during the pandemic as many retirees, for example, may never come back.
She says the government should focus on supporting people with disabilities and long-term health problems, as well as parents with children.


bbcuk--2020-07-15--Coronavirus: How Covid-19 hit the comedy industry

For comedian Ayo Edebiri the coronavirus pandemic has been no laughing matter - in more ways than one .
People losing their lives to a deadly virus - or Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of the shocking death of George Floyd - hardly provided rich picking for jokes .
And then there was the problem with comedy venues closing en masse during lockdown .
Back in March she correctly predicted to a Los Angeles audience that her stand-up gig that night was likely to be her last for a while .
Lockdowns meant venues around the world where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - thousands of performances were cancelled .
For London-based comedian Kate Smurthwaite , this meant a £16,000 loss in bookings - a mixture of stand-up performances , festivals , teaching and workshops - throughout the year .
Also , many travel and accommodation fees were paid in advance , and it has n't been possible to receive refunds for all of them .
`` In the first part of lockdown I was just in financial freefall and I ended up going online and putting myself forward as a maths tutor because it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do , '' Smurthwaite says .
As well as on-stage comedians , support services such as venue staff , bartenders , sound technicians , festival organisers , and others , are affected .
`` Those folks are responsible for comedy happening and they were hit hard by this - it 's horrible , '' says Caleb Hearon , a Los Angeles-based comedian and writer .
Some comedians have received financial support from their governments , but this has only plugged a small gap - more worrying is the fact that post-pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some half ( 49.2 % ) of comedy clubs in the UK say they will definitely face permanent closure without further funding or support , according to a Live Comedy Association ( LCA ) survey .
The UK government is providing £1.5bn emergency arts funding , but comedy was not mentioned in the announcement .
British comedian Mark Watson says this follows a long history of comedy being overlooked , despite playing a big part in UK culture .
`` It does deserve to be regarded in the same way as some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he says .
• Comedy clubs get serious with funding warning • How stand-up comedians are adapting to online gigs The LCA has called on the government to ensure comedy clubs get a slice of funding .
Otherwise , workers and comedians may need to find new careers .
Comedians have had to find new ways of performing , and virtual versions of existing set-ups have had some success , from acts performing stand-up over Zoom , to the Free Edinburgh Fringe Festival being broadcast live on Twitch .
However , comedians do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many online shows have been used as a way for viewers to donate to good causes , or to help political fundraising efforts - meaning the money is n't going directly to comedians , who still require their own income .
`` You ca n't make anywhere near as much money as you would have been able to in normal times , and while you still get the peripheral benefits by doing comedy online , you lose the sense of community of everyone converging in a shared space - so we 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mark Watson .
More from the BBC 's series taking an international perspective on trade : • US beekeepers fear for their future • Why a recession can be a good time to start a business • Coronavirus may have huge impact on property markets • 'You audition for a show only for it to get cancelled ’ • How coronavirus is changing the adverts you see • The fashion labels whose clothes are made by prisoners • Is rum about to become the new gin ?
And Kate Smurthwaite says that while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gained some new sponsors , it also lost sponsors who could no longer afford to contribute because of the coronavirus crisis .
Social media has been another route comedians have tried to ensure they keep existing audiences , while also extending their number of followers .
But translating stand-up to social media is not always easy .
`` In the first few months there was a big Instagram boom of comedians who were finding ways to harness content in a way that was so impressive but also really intimidating , because I felt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head are not going to translate to a live performance , '' Ayo Edebiri says .
Edebiri , who also writes for the Netflix show Big Mouth , says it has also been more difficult to know when and what to joke about , given coronavirus and the BLM movement .
However , Brooklyn-based Sarah Cooper has had millions of views on her TikToks in which she lip syncs President Trump , while Elsa Mpho Majimbo , a journalism student from Kenya who aspires to be a comedy actor , has seen traction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Around three months ago one of my videos got super popular , so I just got a bigger audience and my growth has skyrocketed from there , '' Majimbo says .
She has since signed deals with consumer brands MAC Africa beauty products and telecoms firm MTN , and is working on projects with Comedy Central , who has also put her content on its social channels .
Funds can be generated online in other ways : by people buying tickets for Zoom or other online events , post-show donations on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people buying perks - such as preferential ticketing access - from comedians like Eleanor Conway , on Patreon .
Meanwhile , broadcast channels or firms could sponsor a comedian to do an online gig .
When comedy clubs are allowed to open again the numbers allowed in will have to be balanced with health and safety concerns .
`` If there are still coronavirus cases ... in the UK at the time when we get the green light to reopen , I fear audiences are still going to be hesitant to attend comedy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are gathered in one room , '' says Liam Pape , who manages The Covent Garden Comedy Club , the largest independent comedy club in London .
And British comedian Eleanor Conway suggests now is the time `` to innovate '' .
One innovation has come from Mark Watson .
His Carpool Comedy Club will enable people to watch a selection of comics in a drive-in comedy tour .
Comedians will be on stage and on a big screen , and people will be able to listen to them through their car speakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something and having that sense of community , so hopefully it will be a stepping stone between to what we had before , '' he says .
Writing has been a more reliable source of revenue for many comics , but as episodes of programmes are pushed back and as competition for jobs intensifies , there is likely to be a bottleneck here .
This is an issue throughout the industry at large , which will favour those who are already at the top - and make it harder for those striving to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It favours people who are independently wealthy or who have some other sources of income , '' says Watson .
He says the LCA survey found those most likely to drift away from the industry were people from marginalised backgrounds , people who have had to fight their way into the industry .
`` Comedy is only just getting to the stage where diverse talents and voices are recognised so it would be a real shame if that progress was undone . ''

"You can't make anywhere near as much money as you would have been able to in normal times, and while you still get the peripheral benefits by doing comedy online, you lose the sense of community of everyone converging in a shared space - so we've lost something quite fundamental," says Mark Watson.


bbcuk--2020-07-16--Hancock partially lifts Leicester lockdown virus measures

Some lockdown measures in Leicester will be partially relaxed , the health secretary has announced .
Matt Hancock said schools @ @ @ @ @ 24 July , although school holidays will have started .
But he said that travel @ @ @ @ @ six people can meet in a group and pubs will stay closed .
And he @ @ @ @ @ of restrictions ” would be reviewed in a fortnight .

Some lockdown measures in Leicester will be partially relaxed, the health secretary has announced.
Matt Hancock said schools and nurseries could reopen from 24 July, although school holidays will have started.
But he said that travel restrictions will remain, only six people can meet in a group and pubs will stay closed.
And he said the “careful easing of restrictions” would be reviewed in a fortnight.


bbcuk--2020-07-15--Coronavirus: Seven tips for job hunters

Coronavirus: Seven tips for job hunters

I was told to be 'less young and girly ' to progress Amy Golding talks about the challenges of being @ @ @ @ @ the CEO Secrets series .

I was told to be 'less young and girly' to progress. Video, 00:02:05I was told to be 'less young and girly' to progress


bbcuk--2020-07-15--Grenfell: 'Cladding more stressful' than cancer diagnosis

In March the chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a new building safety fund worth £1bn which would pay for the removal @ @ @ @ @ on buildings , 18 metres or higher , following the Grenfell Tower fire .
Laura @ @ @ @ @ that is covered in combustible cladding .
It was deemed so unsafe that it must @ @ @ @ @ But she and her neighbours are not able to access the fund as her building @ @ @ @ @ Laura and her husband are also dealing with her cancer diagnosis and they say the @ @ @ @ @ is worse than her cancer diagnosis .
UK viewers can watch the full programme for @ @ @ @

In March the chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a new building safety fund worth £1bn which would pay for the removal of all unsafe combustible cladding on buildings, 18 metres or higher, following the Grenfell Tower fire.
Laura Pearce lives in an apartment that is covered in combustible cladding. It was deemed so unsafe that it must have a 24-hour watch. But she and her neighbours are not able to access the fund as her building is shorter than 18m.
Laura and her husband are also dealing with her cancer diagnosis and they say the stress of their cladding nightmare is worse than her cancer diagnosis.
UK viewers can watch the full programme for 30 days from transmission


bbcuk--2020-07-16--The Papers: Coronavirus vaccine hopes and 'mask madness'

Huffpost UK examines how the Tory MP Julian Lewis pulled off what it calls `` a very British coup '' to become the chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee , instead of the government choice , Chris Grayling .
Paul Waugh describes Mr Grayling as `` a picture of incredulity and puzzlement '' when he realised he 'd lost the vote , in what he calls , a `` masterpiece of cloak and dagger politics '' .
Writing forThe Spectator , Isabel Hardman argues that Boris Johnson 's decision to remove the whip from Mr Lewis could backfire .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tory '' and popular with colleagues .
She suggests there 's a risk of the committee being politicised which she argues is a `` dangerous road to go down '' .
The Daily Telegraph reports The Daily Telegraph reports that Boris Johnson will join the governor of the Bank of England in calling for commuters to get back to work .
The paper says the prime minister is concerned that the economy is recovering more slowly than hoped and will set out a road map for the coming months at a news conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is poised to `` rip up '' his work-from-home guidance and to tell people it will be safe to return to the office next month , and to use public transport .
The US papers are giving plenty of coverage to the Twitter hack that has targeted billionaires , politicians and celebrities .
The Washington Post says the widespread nature of the attack - which sent out fake bitcoin deals - suggests `` an unusually broad access '' to Twitter 's internal controls .
The New York Times calls it `` one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
It says intelligence agencies think an individual hacker was behind it - quoting a source as saying the attack was `` effective but also amateurish '' .
Labour has offered deal to end legal action on anti-Semitism , according to The Guardian .
It says the party is poised to make a formal apology to whistleblowers as part of a settlement to draw a line under allegations made during the Jeremy Corbyn era .
The whistleblowers were sued for defamation after a BBC Panorama investigation last year .
The paper says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what they see as capitulation by the new Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer .
`` The mask chaos continues '' is the Daily Star 's verdict on the government 's messaging around face coverings .
Number 10 said they were n't needed in takeaway food outlets - just hours after the health secretary said the opposite .
The Metro pictures Rishi Sunak wearing a mask in Pret - saying the message did n't seem to have got through to the chancellor .
The i 's headline declares the policy is `` all over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Daily Mirror are among those with a story about `` cruel raiders '' who stole an honesty box and all the goods from a stall set up by a five year-old boy .
Harry Clare was described as heartbroken when he discovered his cash , eggs , goats milk and homemade soap had all been taken .
But there is a happy ending .
When the story was shared on social media offers of help and support poured in from around the world .
Harry , who 's pictured next to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be a shopkeeper .
Sign up for a morning briefing direct to your inbox

The Daily Telegraph reports The Daily Telegraph reports that Boris Johnson will join the governor of the Bank of England in calling for commuters to get back to work. The paper says the prime minister is concerned that the economy is recovering more slowly than hoped and will set out a road map for the coming months at a news conference tomorrow. The Sun says Mr Johnson is poised to "rip up" his work-from-home guidance and to tell people it will be safe to return to the office next month, and to use public transport.


bbcuk--2020-07-16--Selfridges attack: Man arrested after 'CS gas' used in fight

Two people have been taken to hospital after an `` unknown substance '' with effects like CS gas was sprayed @ @ @ @ @ Street .
A man , believed to be in his 20s , was arrested for @ @ @ @ @ he sprayed another man with the substance in Selfridges department store at about 13:40 BST @ @ @ @ @ 18 people for effects of the spray - two were taken to hospital for further @ @ @ @ @ enquiries were continuing .
CS gas is used by UK police forces as a temporary @ @ @ @ @ CS gas may cause intense tear production , eye pain , chest tightness , coughing @ @ @ @ @ , CS gas will disperse into the atmosphere in a matter of minutes .

A man, believed to be in his 20s, was arrested for affray after it is alleged he sprayed another man with the substance in Selfridges department store at about 13:40 BST on Thursday.


bbcuk--2020-07-16--Coronavirus: Health authorities identify NI cluster

The Public Health Agency has identified a cluster of Covid-19 cases in the Limavady area .
The agency said it is linking them to a social gathering in a private or residential setting .
Testing and contact tracing is being carried out to identify anyone who may be potentially affected and to help prevent any further spread .
Health Minister Robin Swann said he had `` long anticipated and warned that clusters will happen '' .
The Department of Health 's latest dashboard shows nine of the 16 new cases confirmed on Thursday are in the Causeway Coast and Glens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
All new confirmed cases are monitored by the Public Health Agency to identify potential clusters , outbreaks or linked cases , with infection control advice offered where appropriate .
'Long way to go' In a statement , Mr Swann said people need to `` guard against complacency '' .
`` The virus is still present in our community and must never be underestimated , '' he added .
Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride said `` important strides '' have been made in tackling the virus , however , `` we must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to go '' .
`` We face a very uncertain next few months and the very real prospect of a very challenging autumn and winter , '' Dr McBride continued .
Clusters are to be expected and at this stage we should n't feel alarmed .
We are all well used to the twists and turns of the pandemic and this is just its latest move .
While I reported on a recent cluster in Ballynahinch , this is the first time that the PHA has released detailed information about a specific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social gathering in a house .
It is one of the side effects of coming out of lockdown .
As the goal posts shifted , most of us moved further and mingled with more people .
As the number of positive cases rise , that will undoubtedly impact the R number - which indicates the rate of transmission .
At the moment in NI that number is below 1 and that 's where we 'd like it to stay .
However in the Republic of Ireland there are over 1,200 clusters which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 1.8 .
That means any further opening of the country has been deferred to 10 August .
This does n't mean we are going backwards , instead we are standing still .
In a pandemic , the best direction in which to be moving is always forwards .
Anyone concerned that they have symptoms of coronavirus , which include a raised temperature , a new continuous cough , or a change in their sense of taste or smell , can now be tested .
Tests can be booked at a number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Public Health Agency 's website .
Meanwhile , in the Republic of Ireland , one further coronavirus-related death was reported on Thursday , with 21 new cases .
The death toll there is now 1,749 .

This doesn't mean we are going backwards, instead we are standing still. In a pandemic, the best direction in which to be moving is always forwards.


bbcuk--2020-07-16--Man jailed for 'motiveless' murder of David Williams in Glynneath

A man has been sentenced to a minimum of 16 years in prison for the `` motiveless '' murder of a 73-year-old .
Kyle Bowen , 29 , attacked David Williams after knocking on his door at Danygraig Lane , near Pontwalby Viaduct in Glynneath , on 27 January .
Bowen was told at Swansea Crown Court he would not be eligible for release until at least 2035 .
CCTV footage showed Bowen buying a bottle of vodka before making his way to Mr Williams ' home , but the court heard he was not drunk .
It is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose body was found by his wife .
`` She saw her husband lying on the gravel outside the conservatory , '' John Hipkin QC said .
Emergency services attended but were not able to revive Mr Williams .
DNA matching Mr Williams ' blood was found on Bowen 's trousers , along with fingernail scrapings on Mr Williams ' hand matching Bowen 's DNA .
Bowen told police he suffered from mental health problems but did not know why he went to his victim 's home that day and had been intending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr Williams and his wife Pearl , 72 , would have been celebrating their golden wedding anniversary next year .
In a victim impact statement , Mrs Williams said her `` whole world '' had been destroyed .
`` You will never understand the hurt and pain you have caused me .
You have made me a prisoner in my daughter 's home , too afraid to leave the house .
`` I cry every day , every morning and every night .
You murdered my husband .
`` I hope you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another savage act like this on any other person .
You have no right to ever feel sorry for yourself . ''
Kirsty Wise , Mr Williams ' only child , told the court her mother had been reduced to a `` shadow of the woman she once was '' , and her father 's death had put her plans to start a family on hold .
Defending , Christopher Clee QC said : `` Kyle Bowen 's stance remains that he can not remember assaulting Mr Williams .
`` We can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing . ''
Sentencing Bowen to a minimum of 16 years - minus time already served - Judge Thomas QC described his actions as `` senseless and brutal '' .
`` I believe that your state of mind that day was such that anyone could have been your victim .
You then left him dying for his wife to find . ''

"I hope you will never have the opportunity to commit another savage act like this on any other person. You have no right to ever feel sorry for yourself."


bbcuk--2020-07-16--Stonehenge tunnel decision delayed by archaeological find

An archaeological find has delayed the decision on whether to build a £2.4bn road tunnel near Stonehenge .
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has pushed back the announcement to November to allow for `` further consultation '' .
The proposed tunnel would remove the sight and sound of traffic from the frequently congested A303 route , Highways England has said .
Campaigners have argued the scheme would damage the World Heritage site .
Salisbury MP John Glen said the announcement would be `` unwelcome news '' to local residents , particularly those in Shrewton , which is close to the landmark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still optimistic that we will get to the final green light in November .
I regret the delay but we 've got to do these things properly . ''
The Planning Inspectorate handed its recommendations to Mr Shapps in January , and he was due to make his decision on Friday .
Last month it emerged that a team of archaeologists had discovered a ring of at least 20 large shafts a short distance from Stonehenge .
It is thought they form the largest prehistoric monument ever discovered in Britain , and experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boundary to a sacred area .
Announcing the delay , Transport Minister Andrew Stephenson said the decision to add the four-month extension was `` without prejudice to the decision on whether to give development consent . ''
Earlier this year the two-mile ( 3.2km ) tunnel was given the green light by chancellor Rishi Sunak .
Officially known as the A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down Improvement , the plan includes a flyover at Countess Roundabout in Amesbury , alongside the Blick Mead settlement , and a bypass for Winterbourne Stoke .
More than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Stonehenge Alliance , which opposes the plans .
It said if the tunnel had to go ahead it should be a deep-bored tunnel of at least 2.8 miles ( 4.5km ) long .
`` Anything shorter would cause irreparable damage to this landscape , in breach of the World Heritage Convention , '' the group said .
Derek Parody , Highways England project director for the A303 Stonehenge scheme , said : `` We are confident that the proposed scheme presents the best solution for tackling the longstanding bottleneck on this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stonehenge landscape to something like its original setting and helping to boost the south-west economy . ''

Derek Parody, Highways England project director for the A303 Stonehenge scheme, said: "We are confident that the proposed scheme presents the best solution for tackling the longstanding bottleneck on this section of the A303, returning the Stonehenge landscape to something like its original setting and helping to boost the south-west economy."


bbcuk--2020-07-17--Coronavirus: £3bn for NHS to prepare for possible second wave

The NHS in England will get an extra £3bn of funding to prepare for a possible second wave of coronavirus , Boris Johnson is set to announce .
The funding will also help ease winter pressures on the health service , Downing Street said .
It follows warnings a second wave this winter could see around 120,000 Covid-19 deaths in UK hospitals .
The PM is also expected to use a press conference on Friday to commit to a new target for testing capacity .
Under the plans , capacity would be increased to 500,000 coronavirus tests a day by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will also publish an additional chapter to the government 's Covid-19 recovery strategy `` road map '' .
• Is a second wave of coronavirus on the way ?
• How close to developing a vaccine are we ?
• How can I get a coronavirus test ?
Downing Street said the funding would be available immediately and would allow the NHS to continue using additional private hospital capacity and maintain the temporary Nightingale hospitals until the end of March .
This would provide additional capacity for coronavirus patients , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatments and procedures , No 10 said .
Non-urgent operations were suspended to free up hospital beds as the UK went into lockdown during the first wave of coronavirus - but in May NHS England told hospitals they should restart .
In normal times an announcement of £3bn to help the NHS in England cope with winter pressures might look generous .
But these are not normal times as the government pumps tens of billions into the economy to soften the blows of the coronavirus crisis .
The head of NHS England , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talks with the Treasury to get guarantees that the Nightingale hospitals can stay open through until next spring in case there is another Covid surge .
He also wanted secure funding in place to do a deal with private hospitals to help tackle the backlog of cancelled non urgent operations such as hip and knee replacements .
That money now seems to have been secured , though we await further details .
The question is , will this be enough to get the health service through what could be one of the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been predictions that the waiting list for routine surgery will swell to 10 million as fears of a second wave of Covid cases in the depths of winter wo n't go away .
A No 10 spokesman said : `` Thanks to the hard work and sacrifices of the British people , the virus is under control and we have eased restrictions in a cautious , phased way .
`` But the prime minister is clear that now is not the time for complacency , and we must make sure our NHS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tomorrow , he will set out a broad package of measures to protect against both a possible second wave , and to ease winter pressures and keep the public safe . ''
The spokesman said the funding for England was new and not previously allocated , while expenditure will be set out for the devolved nations in due course .
By announcing this extra NHS funding , the prime minister is looking to reassure the public he is serious about dealing with the second wave , which may give him space to further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ editor Nicholas Watt says .
The government sees this as a `` very important moment as it seeks to open up society '' , Watt adds , and there has been a lot of discussion in government about whether Mr Johnson will on Friday announce a `` return to work '' in a safe way .
The PM is very worried that people continuing to work from home means town and city centres are being `` hollowed out economically '' , Watt says .
The UK 's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absolutely no reason '' to change the government 's current guidance on working from home .
Since late March the government has advised people to work from home if possible to help curb coronavirus .
But last week Mr Johnson signalled a change , saying : `` I think we should now say , well , 'Go back to work if you can ' . ''
• SOCIAL DISTANCING : What are the rules now ?
• SYMPTOMS : What are they and how to guard against them ?
• 40,000 DEATHS : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LOOK-UP TOOL : How many cases in your area ?
Earlier this week a report , requested by Sir Patrick , called for immediate action to reduce the risks posed by a second wave of coronavirus this winter .
Among its recommendations were increasing the capacity of the test and trace programme and getting more people vaccinated against flu .
Asked to model a `` reasonable '' worst-case scenario , scientists suggested a range of between 24,500 and 251,000 virus-related deaths in hospitals alone , peaking in January and February .
The estimate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , treatments or vaccines .
Research suggests the virus can survive longer in colder conditions and is more likely to spread when people spend more time indoors .
Experts are also concerned the NHS will be under extreme pressure , not just from a resurgence of coronavirus but also from seasonal flu and a backlog of regular , non-coronavirus workload .
No 10 said the increased prevalence of seasonal illnesses was also likely to increase individual 's vulnerability to infection , particularly among the elderly .
The potential for a rise in other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenges for the capacity of the government 's test and trace programme , Downing Street added .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has already announced plans for the `` biggest flu vaccination programme in history '' , with expanded eligibility criteria expected to be set out shortly .
The British Medical Association chairman , Chaand Nagpaul , called for clarity on how the £3b funding will be used .
`` The government talks of winter planning , but we need transparency on this , including how far this money can stretch in tackling a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peak , additional non-Covid demand and a possible flu outbreak , '' Dr Nagpaul said .
`` Crucially , the government must make prevention a priority and take every necessary step to try and avoid a national second spike all together . ''
NHS Providers , which represents hospitals and other NHS organisations , echoed the call for clarity over what the money will be used for , saying funding is already in place for Nightingale hospitals and private beds .
While welcoming the financial support , deputy chief executive Saffron Cordery added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They have got to recover the lost ground of the last four or five months and put measures in place to manage the additional activity that always happens in winter . ''
• YOU , ME AND THE BIG C : Cancer treatment during the pandemic • GROUNDED WITH LOUIS THEROUX : The ten most surprising moments from the lockdown podcast

The prime minister said: "Demand for testing is not the only challenge that winter will bring. It's possible that the virus will be more virulent in the winter months and it's certain that the NHS will face the usual annual winter pressures."


bbcuk--2020-07-16--Wretch 32: No further action over Tasering of rapper's dad

No further action will be taken by the Met Police over the Tasering of rapper Wretch 32 's father , the force has said .
The 35-year-old musician posted a video on Twitter of Millard Scott falling downstairs after being Tasered by officers in north London in April .
The case was referred to the police watchdog at the force 's request but it was then passed back to the Met .
The force said there had been no public complaint or indication of misconduct so no further action would be taken .
`` Should a public complaint be made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re-refer the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct ( IOPC ) , '' the force added .
Officers had gone to the address in Bromley Road , Tottenham , on 21 April as part of an operation to tackle a drugs supply linked to serious violence in Haringey .
As they entered the building , they were confronted by a man who `` started moving towards an officer suddenly '' , the force said .
Footage posted online showed Mr Scott tumbling downstairs at his home after an officer was heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Taser .
Stay where you are . ''
The 62-year-old was assessed by paramedics but did not require treatment .
A 22-year-old man inside the address was arrested and later charged with encouraging another to commit an offence under the Serious Crime Act 2007 .
A 52-year-old woman was also later charged with obstructing/resisting a police constable in the execution of duties .
On Wednesday , the Met 's Deputy Commissioner Sir Stephen House told members of the London Assembly that the IOPC had decided that the matter should be handled internally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and proportionate manner '' .
A spokeswoman for the IOPC confirmed it was because they had `` not received a public complaint or confirmation the man involved sustained a serious injury '' .
Scotland Yard has previously spoken with the family about any concerns they had about the Tasering and said they would now write to Mr Scott to tell him about the decision .
Commander Treena Fleming said the force understood why the use of a Taser `` did look alarming in this case '' .
`` Met officers are highly trained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resolve situations , using force only when absolutely necessary . ''

Scotland Yard has previously spoken with the family about any concerns they had about the Tasering and said they would now write to Mr Scott to tell him about the decision.


bbcuk--2020-07-16--Ellie Goulding: 'I'd just become a robot'

Ellie Goulding 's new album opens with the sound of a crowd going wild , recorded at a festival date on the star 's 2016/17 Delirium tour .
It might have been Glastonbury , it might have been Rock In Rio , but the location is n't important .
Wherever she was , Goulding was drained and tired and unhappy .
`` I 'd just become a robot that was able to walk on stage and perform energetically and wildly , '' she says .
`` But actually I was just exhausted , and I do n't remember any of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to enjoy anything properly . ''
Her memories are so blurred that she recently wrote to her tour manager to see if he 'd kept copies of her schedule , `` so I can at least have a trigger to remember all the places I 've been to '' .
`` There was a real temporary-ness to my life , '' she says .
`` It was all about survival .
I did n't really get to understand who I was at the time . ''
• James Bay on the 'fantastic drama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Goulding should have been on top of the world .
After topping the BBC 's Sound of ... list in 2010 , her career had gone stratospheric .
Her debut album Lights hit number one in the UK and the title track went five-times platinum in the US , launching her career over there .
She played at the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge 's wedding reception , topped festival bills , scored a Grammy nomination for Love Me Like You Do and soundtracked the John Lewis Christmas advert .
But when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Delirium , she felt she was being pushed in the wrong direction by her management .
She was bundled into writing sessions with A-list writers like Greg Kurstin ( Adele , Paul McCartney ) , Ryan Tedder ( Lady Gaga , Beyonce ) and Max Martin ( everyone other significant pop artist of the last 30 years ) .
At the time , she said she viewed the album `` as an experiment '' in making a `` big pop album '' , telling the NME : `` I made a conscious decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another level '' .
But deep down , she was still the same bedroom musician who 'd accidentally kick-started a career by making friends with dance producers on MySpace .
The glossy pop sound and figure-hugging costumes never felt entirely comfortable .
`` It was like , 'Okay , so maybe I 'm meant to suddenly become this ginormous pop star that has dancers and glitter and God knows what else on tour , ' and I really enjoyed playing that role for a bit , but I did n't like wearing those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deep down , it was n't me . ''
' I had to get away' Suffering a form of impostor syndrome , Goulding grew dismissive of Delirium , even as it went platinum in the UK .
`` I think it made other people write off the album , too '' she says .
`` But looking back , it actually is a really brilliant pop record .
I just think it perhaps was n't an Ellie Goulding record . ''
As a two-year-long tour dragged on , the singer became more and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ music altogether .
`` It got to a point where I really had to go away from it all , '' she told ITV 's This Morning last year .
`` I thought for a second , 'Maybe I can just quietly go away . '
'' She took two years out of the spotlight , throwing herself into campaigns for homelessness and climate change while she put music on the back burner .
Along the way she also fell in love with art dealer Caspar Jopling , who she married at York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to her previous high-profile relationships with Niall Horan and Ed Sheeran , the couple are unbothered by the tabloids , living in the `` sickeningly beautiful countryside '' of Oxfordshire while Jopling , who 's also an international rower , studies for an MBA at Oxford University .
During the lockdown , Goulding has even been baking cakes for charity .
She gives us a guided Zoom tour of her kitchen , where every work surface is covered in baking trays and cooling racks , laden with brownies and flapjacks and muffins .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ staring at me , '' she laughs .
`` They 're piercing into my soul . ''
Time away from music meant Goulding `` really had a chance to just be and live '' .
She began to feel more settled about herself and her music ; and arranged what she jokingly refers to as `` an amicable uncoupling '' with her old managers .
Then , towards the end of 2018 , she started working on what would become her fourth album , Brightest Blue .
Deeper and more emotional than anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ruins of the last five years - all the vulnerabilities and insecurities , the sadness and the drinking and the falling in love , that it took to get to a place of renewal .
It opens , because it has to , with those sampled crowd noises and an explanation of Goulding 's extended musical absence .
`` Feel like I 've been barely living , '' she sings on Start .
`` I 'm thinking about a new beginning / It 's never too late to start again . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ album - most notably on the stirring Love I 'm Given , where Goulding begs forgiveness for `` the things I 've done '' and `` the ones I 've hurt '' .
The lyrics came to her out of nowhere , and she did n't really appreciate what she was singing about until the song was finished .
`` I listened back to it I was like , 'Sorry , what did I do again ?
What did I do wrong ? '
`` But I think I 'm referring to how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way that I 'm proud of , or mistreated people , '' says the singer .
The singer , who 's had therapy to deal with anger issues , says those bad attitudes stemmed from her own feelings of inadequacy and stress .
`` I think it was the person I tried to create in order to cope with what I was doing - which was , you know , trying to be a million things at once and trying to cope with the job , and then the parallel of celebrity running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 've managed to unravel those things and almost , like , chip them off , I can finally give the right kind of love .
`` And so the song 's about the idea that you get the love that you give out . ''
• Ellie Goulding : ' I used alcohol to be more interesting' Goulding 's new-found confidence can be heard in the experimental arrangements of songs like Wine Drunk and Bleach , and the intricately-layered vocals and transcendental strings of the title track , Brightest Blue .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a trip to a New York gallery last year , where Goulding found herself in a room bathed in soothing , blue light .
`` I walked into this light show and it completely took over .
You can feel this warmth in it , it 's really strange , '' she says .
`` The next day I went to the studio with my engineer and I said , 'Okay I really want to write about this brightest blue that I had , ' and the song just kind of came out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heard it [ finished ] with the strings and everything , I just I literally cried and I do n't do that .
I do n't get emotional at my own music like that - but that song just feels like a new beginning . ''
Goulding is so confident in the new music that she 's split the album into two `` sides '' - the first 13 tracks are the intimate , largely self-written songs that lay her fragility bare .
The flip side , dubbed `` Eg.0 '' showcases a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a raft of chart-bothering collaborations with with Lauv , Swae Lee and the late Juice WRLD .
But she insists the latter songs - all previously-released - have n't just been tacked on to boost sales .
`` I ca n't then just disown them , and pretend they did n't exist , '' she says , `` and it 's important to me to show my craft as a pop writer .
`` You know , I can write big bloody pop songs and sing them quite well , as well .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am as an artist , so I 'd say Brightest Blue is much more of a reflection of my indulgences with classical music and layering boatloads of vocals on top of each other . ''
Early reviews suggest the album will re-establish Goulding as one of Britain 's top pop stars .
The independent called it `` a career-best '' while The Line Of Best Fit said the early songs , in particular , showcase the 33-year-old `` at her most honest , and her most heartfelt '' .
`` I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a musician , and as a songwriter because that 's what I 've always been , '' says the singer .
`` So it 's really nice at this point to feel like I 've come out of what was a really chaotic [ period ] of being known as a celebrity to now , just being known as a musician .
`` It just feels different .
It feels like there is n't an obsession over ... over the things that do n't really matter any more . ''
Brightest Blue is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Facebook , or on Twitter @ BBCNewsEnts .
If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

"I think it was the person I tried to create in order to cope with what I was doing - which was, you know, trying to be a million things at once and trying to cope with the job, and then the parallel of celebrity running alongside it.


bbcuk--2020-07-16--Coronavirus: 'Dear customers, I face ruin, please come back'

City centres around the world are eerily quiet at the moment , as office workers try to work from home @ @ @ @ @ But there is a growing realisation that this is having a huge knock-on effect on @ @ @ @ @ on footfall .
Rumit Shah , who runs a chain of greeting cards shops called @ @ @ @ @ an open letter explaining his plight .

City centres around the world are eerily quiet at the moment, as office workers try to work from home as much as possible. But there is a growing realisation that this is having a huge knock-on effect on small retailers, who rely on footfall.
Rumit Shah, who runs a chain of greeting cards shops called Cards Galore, has written an open letter explaining his plight.
Produced and filmed by digital reporter Dougal Shaw


bbcuk--2020-07-16--The Papers: Russian hackers and the 'jihadi bride' returns

The Financial Times says Russian spies are `` trying to loot vaccine research '' .
It reports that the Kremlin @ @ @ @ @ There is also room for a striking new image of the Sun which shows `` @ @ @ @ @ .
The picture , which was taken by the European Space Agency 's Solar Orbiter @ @ @ @ @ taken of our Sun .

The Daily Mail is among a number of papers to highlight differences between Number 10 and the government's scientific advisers about whether people should still be encouraged to work from home. "Boris at War with his Covid Experts" is how the paper sums it up. The Express says the prime minister's plea for millions of people to return to their work places has been "plunged into confusion" after his top scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, said they should continue working from home. The paper describes it as "another day of mixed messages".


bbcuk--2020-07-16--Coronavirus: Shielding Scots given new lockdown freedoms

Some of the restrictions on people shielding from coronavirus have been eased , allowing them to go out more .
There are about 180,000 people shielding in Scotland and they are now able to go on holiday and visit outdoor markets and gardens .
Couples who do not live together are also allowed to meet up without distancing .
It is hoped the need for shielding could be paused entirely by August .
The shielding group includes those who are at the greatest risk of becoming seriously ill with coronavirus such as people with cancer and severe respiratory conditions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sturgeon has said she hopes to be able to pause the need for shielding entirely at the end of July , but added : `` We would still encourage those in this group to take extra care .
`` I know returning to something like normal life will be welcome , but I appreciate it is also known to be quite daunting . ''
The change in advice means that the shielded can stay at holiday accommodation , including hotels , and visit outdoor markets or public gardens . '
I could n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The easing of the lockdown restrictions will change little for Marie Seggie and her shielding regime .
Living with a chronic condition that has left her with only 20 % lung capacity means the nursery worker has not ventured far from her Coatbridge home since March .
Marie 's 88-year-old mother Katie died in May and this was by far the toughest phase of lockdown , the nursery worker explained .
`` It was heartbreaking , the rest of the family could rally round but I was so restricted in what I could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for her at the end .
`` I feel like I 've not really been grieving either because everything has been on hold . ''
Shielding has also meant sacrifices for Marie 's family .
Daughter Emily , a midwife , moved out of the family home to ensure there was no danger of making her mum ill , while husband Bobby and their other daughter Laura are self-isolating with Marie .
`` It 's been hard not seeing my family properly and I also feel guilty when you see so many people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not , '' she said .
`` I do n't think the changes will make a huge difference to me just now , I ca n't wear a mask because of my chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and I am still really nervous about going to the shops . ''
The 57-year-old added : `` I think our first outing will be to a garden centre or somewhere outdoors like that , but even that feels like a big step right now . ''
• DEATHS : Who is dying and where with Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : What it means and why it matters • LOOK-UP TOOL : How many cases in your area ?

Nicola Sturgeon has said she hopes to be able to pause the need for shielding entirely at the end of July, but added: "We would still encourage those in this group to take extra care.


bbcuk--2020-07-16--Coronavirus: Families reunite as Carmarthenshire care homes reopen

Care home residents have been meeting family face-to-face for the first time since lockdown began .
Managers in Carmarthenshire council 's homes have been calling residents ' relatives to offer appointments and tell them about new procedures .
Visits must be pre-arranged and strict procedures - including maintaining social distancing - are in place .
Jean Emanuel , 90 , said it was `` marvellous '' to see her granddaughter Clare Hale again after four months .
`` We 've never been ones for crying or tears , but it 's just happiness , '' she said .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family .
I ca n't explain it to you . ''
Ms Emanuel celebrated her birthday during lockdown at Y Plas care home in Felinfoel .
`` We 'd hoped to have a little party but we were n't able to do that , '' Ms Hale said .
`` But the home did give her a birthday cake and sent us photos - so that was really special .
The pair had been keeping in touch using Whatsapp and Zoom .
`` As soon as we knew we 'd have an opportunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ round , '' Ms Hale said .
• Welsh care homes 'badly let down ' during pandemic Y Plas care home did not have any coronavirus cases but manager Jayne Gingell said it had been a challenging time .
`` The families are so excited to see their relatives , '' she said .
Carmarthenshire council made the decision to allow visitors back last week .
Health and social care cabinet member Jane Tremlett , said : `` We know how much it means to our residents and their families that they can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love and support in person .
`` It 's been incredibly hard for everyone , and I want to acknowledge the sacrifices families have made to protect their relatives and thank them personally for their understanding and patience at an especially difficult time . ''
She said care home staff had gone `` above and beyond . ''
`` Not only to care for our residents , '' she said .
`` But to help them stay in touch with family via video and telephone calls , and providing comfort and compassion to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ones . ''

Health and social care cabinet member Jane Tremlett, said: "We know how much it means to our residents and their families that they can see each other face-to-face and share their love and support in person.


bbcuk--2020-07-17--Coronavirus: Boris Johnson sets out plan for 'significant normality' by Christmas

Coronavirus restrictions will ease further in England under plans for a `` significant return to normality '' by Christmas , Boris Johnson has announced .
Under the new guidelines , people may use public transport for journeys immediately , while advice for employers will change from 1 August .
Companies will have more discretion to bring staff back to workplaces if it is safe to do so , the PM explained .
Mr Johnson added he was `` hoping for the best and planning for the worst '' .
The PM said during a news conference at Downing Street the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK pulling together to win its `` long fight '' against Covid-19 .
`` It is my strong and sincere hope that we will be able to review the outstanding restrictions and allow a more significant return to normality from November at the earliest - possibly in time for Christmas , '' he said .
Devolved administrations in Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland have the power to set their own timings for the easing of restrictions .
• Will I have to return to the office if I do n't want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that the government was making it clear to people in England they may use public transport now .
From 1 August , he said : `` Instead of government telling people to work from home , we are going to give employers more discretion , and ask them to make decisions about how their staff can work safely .
He explained that could mean `` continuing to work from home , which is one way of working safely and which has worked for many employers and employees '' .
• SOCIAL DISTANCING @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • YOUR QUESTIONS : Our experts have answers • LOOK-UP TOOL : How many cases in your area ?
• THE R NUMBER : What it means and why it matters Also from 1 August , Mr Johnson said most remaining leisure settings , such as bowling alleys , skating rinks and casinos , and close-contact services such as beauticians could resume .
Indoor performances with socially-distanced audiences in theatres , music and performance venues will also be allowed from next month .
However , soft play areas and nightclubs will remain closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said fans could be able to return to sport stadiums .
At-a-glance : The latest changes in England • From 25 July indoor gyms , pools and other sports facilities can reopen • On 1 August the government will update its advice on going to work , asking employers to make decisions about how and where their staff can work safely • From the same date , most remaining leisure settings , including bowling , skating rinks , casinos and all close contact services such as beauticians , will be allowed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 people will also be allowed from next month • From September , schools , nurseries and colleges will be open for all children and young people on a full-time basis , while universities are also working to reopen as fully as possible • From October , the government intends to allow audiences to return to stadiums , while conferences and other business events can recommence , subject to the outcome of pilots Mr Johnson also confirmed an additional £3bn in funding for the NHS to help it prepare for a potential second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its usual winter pressures .
An expansion in testing capacity to a target of 500,000 tests a day by the end of October would help identify positive coronavirus cases among people with symptoms of seasonal illnesses , he added .

"Small firms are being tasked with consulting employees and putting the right measures in place to ensure a safe return to work," he said. "After weeks of little or no income, they will need help - both funding and advice - to make that happen."


bbcuk--2020-07-17--Fans could return to stadiums in October - Johnson

Fans could be able to return to stadiums in England from October , says Prime Minister Boris Johnson .
Pilots will take place from 1 August but any stadium reopenings would be subject to coronavirus guidelines .
Some sports , including football and cricket , have resumed behind closed doors after the Covid-19 lockdown .
`` We will pilot larger gatherings in venues like sports stadiums with a view to a wider reopening in the autumn , '' said Johnson on Friday .
`` From October , we intend to bring back audiences in stadiums .
`` Again , these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way , subject to the successful outcome of pilots . ''
The pilot projects will be held at : • Two men 's county cricket friendly matches - including Surrey v Middlesex at The Oval on 26-27 July ; • The World Snooker Championship at Sheffield 's Crucible Theatre from 31 July ; '' For months , millions of us have felt the void of being unable to go to the match to support our team or attend a top-class sporting event , '' said Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston .
`` So I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to move forward with a plan to help venues safely reopen their doors to fans .
`` I recognise that not every sport , team or club has the benefit of huge commercial revenue , and it is often their dedicated fans that are the lifeblood which helps keep them going .
By working closely with sports and medical experts , these pilots will help ensure the safe return of fans to stadiums .
`` Although it will remain some time before venues are full to capacity , this is a major step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of live spectator sport across the country . ''
The Department for Digital , Culture , Media and Sport also said further pilot events are likely to be held in other sports .
In order for fans to return to stadiums , the government has outlined operating guidelines that state : • Fans must agree to a new code of behaviour that includes not attending if they potentially have symptoms of coronavirus or have been exposed to a person who has tested positive ; • Social distancing must be observed in seating arrangements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in place , including the controlled entry and exit of fans and one-way systems ; • Additional hygiene facilities should be installed inside venues , particularly at entrances and exits ; • Screening procedures should be considered at stadia entrances .
Domestic competitive sport resumed on 1 June for the first time since mid-March , with football 's Premier League and English Football League getting back under way on 17 and 20 June respectively .
International cricket , golf , horse racing and snooker are among the other sports to have resumed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the UK have died with coronavirus , while there have been more than 292,000 confirmed cases .

Last updated on .From the section Sport
Sport has been held behind closed doors since its return, including England's ongoing Test series against West Indies
Spectators could be able to return to stadiums in England from October, says Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Pilots will take place from 1 August but any stadium reopenings would be subject to coronavirus guidelines.
Some sports, including football and cricket, have resumed behind closed doors after the Covid-19 lockdown.
"We will pilot larger gatherings in venues like sports stadiums with a view to a wider reopening in the autumn," said Johnson on Friday.
"From October, we intend to bring back audiences in stadiums.
"Again, these changes must be done in a Covid-secure way, subject to the successful outcome of pilots."
The pilot projects will be held at:
Two men's county cricket friendly matches - including Surrey v Middlesex at The Oval on 26-27 July;
The World Snooker Championship at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre from 31 July;
The Goodwood horse racing festival - known as Glorious Goodwood - on 1 August.
The Racecourse Association said the Goodwood event could cater for up to 5,000 people, plus participants.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said it was "pleased that this announcement allows cricket to be among the first pilot events" and that it would continue to work with the government on the safety measures required for supporters to return safely.
"For months, millions of us have felt the void of being unable to go to the match to support our team or attend a top-class sporting event," said sports minister Nigel Huddleston.
"So I am pleased that we are now able to move forward with a plan to help venues safely reopen their doors to fans.
"I recognise that not every sport, team or club has the benefit of huge commercial revenue, and it is often their dedicated fans that are the lifeblood which helps keep them going. By working closely with sports and medical experts, these pilots will help ensure the safe return of fans to stadiums.
"Although it will remain some time before venues are full to capacity, this is a major step in the right direction for the resumption of live spectator sport across the country."
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport also said further pilot events are likely to be held in other sports.
In order for fans to return to stadiums, the government has outlined operating guidelines that state:
Fans must agree to a new code of behaviour that includes not attending if they potentially have symptoms of coronavirus or have been exposed to a person who has tested positive;
Social distancing must be observed in seating arrangements;
Crowd management plans should be in place, including the controlled entry and exit of fans and one-way systems;
Additional hygiene facilities should be installed inside venues, particularly at entrances and exits;
Screening procedures should be considered at stadium entrances.
Attendance at Goodwood on 1 August - the final day of a five-day meeting - will initially be offered to the racecourse's annual members and their guests
Domestic competitive sport in England resumed on 1 June for the first time since mid-March, with football's Premier League and English Football League (EFL) getting back under way on 17 and 20 June respectively.
International cricket, golf, horse racing and snooker are among the other sports to have resumed.
The Premier League is understood to be pleased by the proposals and wants the maximum number of fans allowed back in stadiums as soon as it is safe to do so.
The league is also willing to offer pre-season games as possible trial events before the start of next season.
The Football Association said it welcomes the government's "positive update" that allows them to "step up" efforts to get fans back into stadiums.
"Supporters are the lifeblood of our national game, and that has been underlined by how much their absence has been felt over the last month," said the FA.
"We will continue to work closely with relevant authorities on how we can bring them back in a safe and secure manner, including any help we can provide to the proposed pilot events."
The EFL said the Prime Minister's announcement started to "provide some clarity" as football authorities work to bring fans back.
"We will continue to work with our colleagues at DCMS, the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) and the wider football family in order to deliver on the timeframe and to assist clubs with the inevitable operational and financial challenges this will bring," said the EFL.
Premiership Rugby says it would be ready to welcome fans back into grounds before the end of the season if given Government permission. The season is due to to resume on 14 August.
In Scotland, no date has yet been set for fans returning to stadiums. Now in phase three of the Scottish government's route out of lockdown, the Premiership - football's top flight - will begin on 1 August behind closed doors.
The second-tier Scottish Championship and Leagues One and Two kick off a reduced, 27-game season on 17 October, the same weekend as the first Old Firm derby between Celtic and Rangers of the 2020-21 campaign.
The Scottish government has held talks with Scottish Rugby about using Murrayfield as a test venue, where fans could return but be physically distanced.
More than 45,000 people in the UK have died with coronavirus, while there have been more than 292,000 confirmed cases.


bbcuk--2020-07-17--Coronavirus: Councils to get new shutdown powers

Councils in England will get new powers from Saturday to force owners to shut pubs , cafes , shops and restaurants in areas hit by coronavirus outbreaks .
Boris Johnson said local authorities would also be able to close public places , like parks , and cancel events .
And he announced the government would issue `` stay-at-home orders '' where there are local outbreaks from next month .
These would stop people leaving defined areas and restrict public transport use until infection rates fall .
During a Downing Street press briefing , Mr Johnson announced the government 's next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy while keeping the coronavirus infection rate down .
He said employers would get more discretion over asking people to return to workplaces , while indoor performance events would restart from August .
• PM sets out plan for 'back to normal by Christmas' Mr Johnson said greater powers for local authorities would enable them `` to act more quickly in response to outbreaks where speed is paramount '' , in what he called `` lightning lockdowns '' .
County councils and unitary authorities will no longer have to get permission from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be part of `` essential infrastructure '' , in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus .
Government guidance says this `` significantly '' increases councils ' powers and urges them to use them `` with discretion '' .
Mr Johnson said : `` Action by local councils will not always be sufficient , so next week we will publish draft regulations on how central government can intervene more effectively at a local level .
`` Where justified by the evidence , ministers will be able to close whole sectors or types @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local stay-at-home orders , prevent people entering or leaving defined areas , reduce the size of gatherings beyond the national defined rules or restrict transport systems serving local areas . ''
A more localised approach , when it comes to tackling Covid , has been used now for some time .
But Boris Johnson is also signalling a tougher approach : new powers for councils and for ministers as well .
One of those powers for central government is quite striking : the ability to prevent people entering or leaving defined areas .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean the lockdown is loosening overall , the government 's trying to tighten its ability to crack down on local outbreaks .

Labour's London Mayor, Sadiq Khan said he did not have any "confidence that we could have a geographical lockdown in London", but added: "We probably could lock down a building, if it's a factory or a place of worship or a school."


bbcuk--2020-07-17--Hancock calls for urgent review into coronavirus death data in England

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has called for an urgent review into how coronavirus deaths have been recorded in England .
It follows confirmation from Public Health England that reported deaths may have included people who tested positive months before they died .
The other UK nations are only thought to include those who die within 28 days of having coronavirus .
There have been 40,528 deaths linked to the virus in England .
• How many confirmed cases are there in your area ?
Prof Carl Heneghan from University of Oxford , who spotted the issue with the data , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ variation '' in the numbers of daily deaths reported in England by PHE .
While NHS England currently reports 30-35 deaths per day , Public Health England 's data often shows double that or more , he said .
The reason is that anyone who has tested positive for coronavirus but then died at a later date of another cause would still be included in PHE 's Covid-19 death figures .
`` By this PHE definition , no one with Covid in England is allowed to ever recover from their illness , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ correct and accurate statistics so we can really understand the trend - otherwise it 's very difficult to know what 's going on , '' he added .
What does this mean for England 's virus death toll ?
This could explain why the daily death toll in England has remained higher than in other UK nations .
Scotland , Northern Ireland and Wales only include deaths in their daily count if someone died within 28 days of a positive test .
But it does n't mean that most of England 's coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's better to look at death registrations that pick up coronavirus cases that were never confirmed by a lab test .
And when you look at those figures , or deaths from all causes , England still has one of the highest deaths tolls in Europe and leading developed economies in the pandemic , to date .
Dr Susan Hopkins , from Public Health England , said there was no agreed method of counting deaths from Covid-19 .
`` In England , we count all those that have died who had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure our data is as complete as possible .
`` We must remember that this is a new and emerging infection and there is increasing evidence of long-term health problems for some of those affected . ''
`` Now is the right time to review how deaths are calculated , '' Dr Hopkins said .
Prof David Spiegelhalter , professor of the public understanding of risk at the University of Cambridge , has called for the same systems for collecting data on deaths to be used across the UK .
There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential second wave .
`` As we go into the winter , it will get incredibly confusing and concerning if you have an increase in deaths while you are still counting and combining deaths from within the first phase , '' Prof Heneghan said .
`` This means we might be unable to detect early trends in rising deaths if we put them down to historical deaths due to the inadequacies of the current system . ''

"As we go into the winter, it will get incredibly confusing and concerning if you have an increase in deaths while you are still counting and combining deaths from within the first phase," Prof Heneghan said.


bbcuk--2020-07-17--Hospital wedding for terminally ill patient

After six months fighting cancer , Tash Young was told her body was not responding to treatment and she had @ @ @ @ @ The 25-year-old , who worked for Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire , had a rare spindle @ @ @ @ @ itself as chest pain .
Her boyfriend Simon Young was waiting for the perfect moment @ @ @ @ @ they could not wait any longer .
With the help of the team at Southampton @ @ @ @ @ a wedding in just four days during lockdown .
Tash and Simon were married for @ @ @ @ @ , and now her family are fundraising for the Teenage Cancer Trust .
This story @ @ @ @ @ distancing techniques .

After six months fighting cancer, Tash Young was told her body was not responding to treatment and she had weeks left to live.
The 25-year-old, who worked for Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire, had a rare spindle cell sarcoma that initially presented itself as chest pain.
Her boyfriend Simon Young was waiting for the perfect moment to propose, but decided they could not wait any longer.
With the help of the team at Southampton General Hospital, they organised a wedding in just four days during lockdown.
Tash and Simon were married for a month before she died, and now her family are fundraising for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
A film by Sarah Bassett and Emily Ford
This story was filmed using safe social distancing techniques.


bbcuk--2020-07-17--Boy, 10, dies after accident at works site in Glasgow

A 10-year-old boy has died following an accident at a building site in Glasgow .
Police were called to reports of a boy seriously injured near Glenkirk Drive in Drumchapel at 21:55 on Thursday .
Officers , along with the fire and ambulance service , arrived a short time later .
The 10-year-old was taken by ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital , where he died soon after arrival .
Police said its inquiries were continuing but the boy 's death was not being treated as suspicious .
A children 's slide that had been taped off could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ construction site with police standing guard .
Work was being carried out on the site by Scottish Water to address flooding problems in the area from the Garscadden Burn .
The Health and Safety Executive confirmed it was assisting police with their inquiries .
Gary Copland , who lives nearby , was driving to the local garage when he saw the large police presence .
`` I saw all the lights and the sirens and I pulled in .
I was like 'That is n't normal .
That 's not the average response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ towards something , ' '' he explained .
Mr Copland said the gaps in the construction site fence concerned him as a father himself because of the `` major excavation '' that was taking place .
`` There are gaps in the fence and parts of the fence that have been torn down and replaced but because of Covid-19 I do n't think a lot of people have been going round to check on it .
`` I think there has to be a consideration into security now , maybe more personnel here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signs , something instead of just a fence with holes .
`` The site just looks like a big sandy hill to a kid .
It 's devastating .
Your heart goes out to them '' .
Another Drumchapel resident who heard the sirens , Agnes Ball , said the small community would pull together in the `` heartbreaking '' and `` tragic '' accident .
Tributes to the 10-year-old have been posted on social media from `` devastated '' Drumchapel residents .
A post on a community Facebook page said : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this .
Every parents worst nightmare .
RIP wee angel .
Thinking of all the family at this heartbreaking time . ''
Another post said : `` This is absolutely heartbreaking .
May god bless all his family and friends .
Also sending love to Drumchapel .
Life is so cruel . ''
`` R.I.P little man , such terrible news , my heart is breaking for your family & friends , another life taken too soon xxx , '' read another contribution .

Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.


bbcuk--2020-07-17--Cadbury accused of 'shrinkflation' as packs get smaller

All Cadbury chocolate bars sold in multipacks will shrink by the end of 2021 to reduce their calorie count , owner Mondelez has announced .
Popular treats including Crunchie , Twirl and Wispa bars will contain no more than 200 calories each when sold in a four-pack .
However , the price will stay the same .
Bars sold individually will not change .
Chocolate fans took to Twitter to denounce the latest example of what has become known as `` shrinkflation '' .
That is when food manufacturers reduce the weight of their products without shrinking the price .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tackling obesity and are committed to doing so without compromising on consumer choice , '' said Louise Stigant , UK managing director at Mondelez International .
When asked why `` single-serve '' bars were unaffected , a spokesperson for Mondelez said the firm believed in `` offering consumers different portion sizes for different occasions '' .
The spokesperson confirmed that the list price for multipacks would not change and said pricing was up to retailers .
Consumers were sceptical , with one tweeting that Cadbury should change the name of its Double Decker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say that the change is for health reasons when it seems painfully obvious it 's for profit margins , '' said another disgruntled customer .
This is not the first time that Mondelez has run into opposition after altering the size of its chocolate bars .
In 2016 , it reduced the weight of its Toblerone bar from 200g to 150g by spacing out its distinctive triangular chunks , but it reversed the change two years later .
`` This is a sign of the times . ''
said Mark Jones , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law firm Gordons .
`` You may remember in July 2017 , the ONS ( Office for National Statistics ) confirmed that 2,529 products shrank in size between January 2012 and June 2017 , but their price remained the same .
The vast majority of the affected products were food and drink .
`` Now we are on the brink of another recession , shrinkflation will probably increase again .
Only this time , when the producers are caught , they are likely to point to the obesity epidemic as their motivation rather @ @ @ @ @


bbcuk--2020-07-17--British Airways retires entire 747 fleet after travel downturn

British Airways has said it will retire all of its Boeing 747s as it suffers from the sharp travel downturn .
The UK airline is the world 's largest operator of the jumbo jets , with 31 in the fleet .
`` It is with great sadness that we can confirm we are proposing to retire our entire 747 fleet with immediate effect , '' a BA spokesman told the BBC .
Airlines across the world have been hit hard by coronavirus-related travel restrictions .
`` It is unlikely our magnificent 'queen of the skies ' will ever operate commercial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the downturn in travel caused by the Covid-19 global pandemic , '' the spokesman added .
• Hundreds of Gatwick jobs to go in BA restructure BA , which is owned by International Airlines Group ( IAG ) , said the planes will all be retired with immediate effect .
The 747s represent about 10 % of BA 's total fleet .
It had planned on retiring the planes in 2024 but has brought forward the date due to the downturn .
According to travel data firm Cirium there are about 500 747s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are actively flying passengers .
More than 300 fly cargo and the remainder are in storage .
The Boeing 747 is beautiful , distinctive and has half a century of proud service behind it .
But - as a passenger plane at least - it is also quite simply outdated .
A four-engine aircraft , it is far less efficient than modern twin-engine models , such as the Airbus A350 , the 787 Dreamliner , or even the older Boeing 777 - all of which are cheaper to run .
Before the Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wall .
Airlines such as Air France , Delta and United had already retired their fleets .
BA had planned to use them for another few years .
But the crisis in the industry means a future in which there will be fewer passengers , fewer planes - and keeping costs down will be crucial .
So now the airline has decided the queen of the skies is a luxury it can no longer afford .
British Airways ' predecessor BOAC first started flying 747s in the early 1970s .
BA is currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aircraft .
It is currently the world 's biggest operator of 747-400s and first took delivery of them in July 1989 .
Originally , the upper deck contained a lounge which was known as the `` club in the sky '' .
The British carrier added it would operate more flights on modern , more fuel-efficient planes such as its new Airbus A350s and Boeing 787 Dreamliners .
It expects them to help it achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 .
Boeing 's 747 helped democratise global air travel in the 1970s , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ February 2019 .
A wave of restructuring triggered by the virus outbreak is hitting airlines across the world , along with plane-makers and their suppliers .
Thousands of job losses and furloughs have been announced in recent weeks .
Up to 12,000 BA staff , including pilots cabin crew , engineers and ground staff are facing redundancy as the airline slashes costs in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic .
• The first Boeing 747 flight took place in February 1969 • It was the first aeroplane dubbed a `` jumbo jet '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , operated its first 747 flight , flying from London to New York , in 1971 • At its height , BA had a fleet of 57 747-400s , second only to Japan Airlines ( more than 100 ) • The wings of a 747-400 span 213ft and are big enough to accommodate 50 parked cars What happens to retired planes ?
Specialist companies assess whether aircraft should be salvaged or scrapped .
Often they are dismantled and their parts sold on for scrap or recycled .
Most of the value is in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out as they have valuable interiors .
In some cases , private individuals and entrepreneurs buy old airliners to convert them into hotels , restaurants and tourist attractions .
Those that are scrapped can end up in giant aircraft graveyards in the desert where they are left to rust .

BA had planned to use them for another few years. But the crisis in the industry means a future in which there will be fewer passengers, fewer planes - and keeping costs down will be crucial.


bbcuk--2020-07-16--Jack Shepherd: Speedboat killer has sentence reduced

Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd has had his sentence reduced by almost three months by appeal judges .
The 31-year-old was jailed after Charlotte Brown was fatally thrown from his boat on the River Thames in December 2015 .
Shepherd fled the country ahead of his trial at the Old Bailey and was later extradited back to the UK .
The Court of Appeal ruled 78 days he spent in custody in Georgia should count as time served .
Lawyers representing Shepherd argued those 78 days had wrongly not been taken into account as part of an additional four-year consecutive sentence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ barman in 2018 .
• Speedboat killer hands himself in to police Shepherd did not attend the hearing earlier , where Lord Justice Fulford , Mr Justice Holgate and Sir Roderick Evans made their decision .
The prosecution did not raise any objections .
Shepherd was convicted in his absence in July 2018 of manslaughter by gross negligence and sentenced to six years .
He handed himself in at the Georgian capital of Tbilisi in January 2019 and was brought back to the UK to start his sentence .
After his extradition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six months in jail for breaching bail and also admitted wounding with intent at Exeter Crown Court and was sentenced to four years .
The court heard he had struck a man with a vodka bottle after being asked to leave a pub in Newton Abbot , Devon .
Shepherd and 24-year-old Ms Brown , from Clacton-on-Sea , Essex , had been out drinking and went on a late-night boat trip on the Thames , his Old Bailey trial was told .
He handed the controls of his boat to Ms Brown moments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and overturned , jurors were told .
Shepherd was plucked from the water alive , but Ms Brown was found unconscious and unresponsive .

Shepherd was convicted in his absence in July 2018 of manslaughter by gross negligence and sentenced to six years. He handed himself in at the Georgian capital of Tbilisi in January 2019 and was brought back to the UK to start his sentence.


bbcuk--2020-07-17--Knife crime in England and Wales at record high, figures show

The number of knife crimes In England and Wales has risen to a new record high , says the Office for National Statistics .
There were 46,265 offences in the 12 months to the end of March this year , up 6 % from the previous year .
The figures , which do not include Greater Manchester Police , were partly driven by a 7 % rise in London .
However , the ONS said there was a `` significant '' reduction in overall offending , which fell 9 % .
• The crimes least likely to be solved • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then we save them ’ There was also a large rise in cases of murder and manslaughter , with 683 deaths - though the total includes the 39 people found dead inside a lorry in Essex last October .
Of all the killings , 256 involved a knife or sharp object , up from 250 the year before .
There were 619 offences involving a corrosive substance - such as acid - the first time the figures have been published by the ONS .
The crime statistics appear to present a contradictory picture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reduction in offending and the police figures showing a rise .
In fact , they 're measuring different things .
The survey indicates how many people have experienced crime ; the police data show how many offences have been reported to and recorded by forces .
For overall and long-term trends , the survey is more reliable .
For instance , the ONS says there 's been a drop-off for the first time in six years in the proportion of adults saying they 've been the victim of a sexual assault .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an accurate gauge of what 's happening than police figures , which rely to a large extent on the willingness of victims to come forward .
For some of the most serious - but comparatively less prevalent - offences , such as knife crime , the police figures are better , though they make for depressing reading .
For the first time , data from the ONS Crime Survey captured the gender identity of victims of crime .
Those whose gender identity is different from that registered at birth were twice as likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victim .
People of a mixed ethnic background were the most likely to have been a crime victim - 20 % compared to 13 % for white people .
Those from an Asian background were also more likely to have experienced crime ( 15 % ) .
The figures were also significantly higher for those who identified as gay , lesbian or bisexual - 21 % compared to 14 % of those who are straight .
These figures exclude fraud and computer use , which the ONS says are generally considered to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data from the survey , which is based on interviews with almost 34,000 people , suggest there was a 9 % fall in overall offending .
The Office for National Statistics says this is a `` significant '' reduction , which was partly driven by steep falls in theft and criminal damage .
Sophie Sanders , from the ONS 's centre for crime and justice , said : `` Overall , crime rates were lower in the months leading up to the coronavirus pandemic than they were in early 2019 .
`` However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say whether this would have come to represent a change from the trend in recent years , as the pandemic will have had an impact on the level and types of crime since March . ''

"However, it will not be possible to say whether this would have come to represent a change from the trend in recent years, as the pandemic will have had an impact on the level and types of crime since March."


bbcuk--2020-07-17--Why Monty Python's Life of Brian, once rated X, is now a 12A

In 1979 , Monty Python 's Life of Brian was considered so controversial it was given an X certificate and banned from some British cinemas .
Last year , however , its rating was downgraded to a 12A by the British Board of Film Classification ( BBFC ) .
In its annual report , published this week , the BBFC said it now considered the film `` permissible at a more junior category '' under its current guidelines .
The film returned to cinemas in 2019 to mark its 40th anniversary .
It was rereleased in April last year with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ language , moderate sex references , nudity [ and ] comic violence '' .
• Life of Brian to get Truro screening Life of Brian , the third film to feature the entire Monty Python collective , tells of a young man in Roman times who is falsely mistaken for Jesus .
The film , now considered a classic , includes a character called Biggus Dickus , several uses of a swear word and a scene in which actor Graham Chapman appears naked .
When it was first released , the BBFC - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Censors - rated the film AA , which meant those under 14 were not allowed to see it .
Contemporary concerns that the film was blasphemous in nature led to more than 100 local authorities opting to view the film for themselves .
This led to 28 of them raising the classification to an X certificate , meaning no one under 18 could see it , and 11 banning the film altogether .
When the film went to video and DVD , the BBFC gave it a 15 rating for strong language and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over were allowed to see it .
On reviewing the film in 2019 , though , the ratings body felt its `` six uses of strong language in a comic context '' merited no higher than a 12A certificate .
The rating means the film is not generally suitable for children under 12 and they can not see it in a cinema without the supervision of an adult .
It is not uncommon for the BBFC to revisit films that are being reissued theatrically and reappraise their original classification .
Earlier this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , released in 1980 with a U certificate , was reclassified as a PG for its `` moderate violence [ and ] mild threat '' .
Comic book origin story Joker generated the most complaints from cinemagoers last year , with 20 people complaining that its 15 certificate was too lenient .
The BBFC said the Oscar-winning film , released in the UK in January 2019 , featured `` scenes of strong violence ... with accompanying bloody injury detail '' .
Yet it said it had decided the scenes in question did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or injury in a manner that requires an 18 [ certificate ] '' .
Other films that prompted complaints in 2019 included Alita : Battle Angel , John Wick : Chapter 3 - Parabellum and Transformers spin-off Bumblebee .
Animated film The Queen 's Corgi , meanwhile , received five complaints about sexual references and animal cruelty .
Released last July , the film features a cartoon version of President Trump and a scene where its canine hero climbs into a washing machine .
In its report , the BBFC said no animals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the film .
Follow us on Facebook , or on Twitter @ BBCNewsEnts .
If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

Life of Brian, the third film to feature the entire Monty Python collective, tells of a young man in Roman times who is born on the same day as Jesus and is subsequently mistaken for the messiah.