GCHQ Spies 'Tap Fibre Optic Cables For Data'

British spies have secretly accessed fibre-optic cables carrying huge numbers of emails, Facebook messages and other communications, according to The Guardian.

Documents given to the newspaper by US whistleblower Edward Snowden suggest eavesdropping agency GCHQ can analyse data from the network of cables that carry global phone calls and internet traffic under an operation codenamed Tempora.

The newspaper said data had been shared with the organisation's US counterpart, the National Security Agency.

GCHQ, in Cheltenham, refuses to comment on intelligence matters but insisted it was "scrupulous" in complying with the law.

It is the latest in a string of leaks from Mr Snowden, who has told The Guardian he wants to expose "the largest programme of suspicionless surveillance in human history".

The newspaper said there were two principal components to the agency's surveillance programme, called Mastering the Internet and Global Telecoms Exploitation.

The paper claimed Operation Tempora had been running for 18 months.

GCHQ and the NSA can access communications including recordings of phone calls and a user's entire internet history, the documents suggest - and their scans apparently entirely innocent people as well as specific suspects.

Edward Snowden has been charged with espionage

Mr Snowden, who fled the US for Hong Kong after deciding to reveal the NSA's secrets, told the paper: "It's not just a US problem. The UK has a huge dog in this fight," he said.

"They (GCHQ) are worse than the US."

The Guardian reported that GCHQ lawyers told US counterparts there was a "light oversight regime" in Britain compared with America.

The newspaper said the documents revealed that by last year GCHQ was handling 600 million "telephone events" each day, had tapped more than 200 fibre-optic cables and was able to process data from at least 46 of them at a time.

The intelligence gathered is understood to have led to a number of high-profile arrests and convictions, including a terror cell in the Midlands. It is also claimed to have led to the arrest of London-based individuals planning attacks prior to last year's Olympic Games.

A source close to the intelligence agencies told Sky News' Political Correspondent Sophy Ridge that GCHQ scanned data for possible indications of a threat to national security, and that most of the information is not looked at in detail.

The work is legal and subject to ministerial scrutiny, the source said.

Ridge said: "At the same time this is of course going to reignite the big debate over the balance between protecting national security and making sure that people's personal details aren't compromised."

Privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch's director Nick Pickes said: "If GCHQ have been intercepting huge numbers of innocent people's communications as part of a massive sweeping exercise, then I struggle to see how that squares with a process that requires a warrant for each individual intercept. This question must be urgently addressed in Parliament."

A GCHQ spokeswoman said: "Our intelligence agencies continue to adhere to a rigorous legal compliance regime."

US authorities have filed espionage charges against Mr Snowden, a former CIA technician who formerly worked for the NSA, and have asked Hong Kong to detain him.

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Jeremy Forrest: Child Sex Teacher Jailed

A teacher who fled to France with his pupil and spent a week on the run has been jailed after admitting five counts of sexual activity with a child.

Jeremy Forrest, who was convicted by a jury yesterday of abducting the schoolgirl, pleaded guilty to the additional charges and was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison.

During his trial, the prosecution labelled him a "paedophile" and said he "groomed" the vulnerable teenager.

The 30-year-old insists he still loves the youngster, who broke down in tears and told him she was "sorry" as he was found guilty of her abduction.

She did not attend court for his sentencing but in a victim statement her mother said she had been "robbed" of her childhood.

"I feel like the worst mother in the world," she said. "Someone has got my child and I never saw it coming."

Forrest is led onto a plane to be extradited from France last October

Passing sentence, the judge at Lewes Crown Court said Forrest "chose to ignore the cardinal rule of teaching" by starting a sexual relationship with the teenager shortly after her 15th birthday.

"Your behaviour in this period has been motivated by self-interest and has hurt and damaged many people - her family, your family, staff and pupils at the school and respect for teachers everywhere," Michael Lawson QC said.

"It has damaged you too but that was something you were prepared to risk. You now have to pay that price."

He added: "I have seen nothing in the evidence which shows that at any stage you tried to provide proper boundaries between yourself and her, to discourage her, or let other staff deal with the matter appropriately.

"Indeed all the evidence shows that you encouraged her infatuation and provided opportunities for her to communicate with you and be alone with you."

Forrest arrived back in the UK with his head covered

Rumours of Forrest's relationship with the teenager surfaced in February last year, when the pair were spotted holding hands during a flight on a school trip to Los Angeles.

The girl, now 16, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted having a crush on Forrest, who taught at Bishop Bell Church of England School in Eastbourne, East Sussex.

They exchanged flirty text messages, tweets and photographs but denied any wrongdoing when pressed by the school.

Fearing their relationship was about to be exposed when police were alerted last September, Forrest abducted the youngster and took her on a cross-Channel ferry to France, where they spent a week on the run.

The couple dyed their hair, assumed false names and dropped a mobile phone into the English Channel in an effort to avoid being caught, but were tracked down after a Europe-wide search.

The family of Jeremy Forrest give their reaction to the sentencing

In a statement read outside court, Forrest's family said he was "very sorry for his actions" during what they described as a "sorry episode for all concerned".

"Despite the verdict and today's sentence, there are many factors in this case which need to be examined and addressed, including the failure to properly act on early warnings," they said.

"We sincerely hope these are looked into and not simply swept under the carpet."

A spokesman for Bishop Bell School said the staff had only "very limited anecdotal hearsay and no evidence of relationship" when concerns were first raised.

He said that before Forrest fled the country, the school had intended to remove him from the classroom while an internal investigation into possible professional misconduct was carried out.

A jury took just two hours to find Forrest guilty of abduction

The spokesman said staff remained "deeply shocked by the actions of Mr Forrest and his betrayal of the trust that was placed in him".

"It is important that the strongest possible message is sent to all who work with children that they hold a position of responsibility and trust for the lives, and wellbeing, of those in their care," he said.

"We take our responsibility extremely seriously and our safeguarding policies and procedures are robust.

"However, we are determined to implement any learning from these events to ensure that all pupils at the school are as safe as they possibly could be."

Jeremy Forrest was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in jail

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Ling, of Sussex Police, said Forrest was in a "position of responsibility, authority and trust over the children in his care, which included this young, vulnerable victim".

"He grossly abused the trust placed in him and his actions caused distress and anxiety amongst parents, family members and the school community," he said.

Nigel Pilkington, of the Crown Prosecution Service, added: "We're pleased that Forrest has been sentenced for the full extent of his criminality, sparing his victim and her family from having to go through another trial."

Forrest, of Petts Wood, London, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for each count of sexual activity. The sentences will run at the same time. A one-year sentence for abduction will run consecutively.

The judge also imposed a sexual offences prevention order on Forrest, banning him from working or volunteering with children and unsupervised contact with children forever.

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Fans Roar Support For First Lions Rugby Test

By Jonathan Samuels, Australia Correspondent

Fans who have jetted around the world to follow the British and Irish Lions have brought the wet weather with them to Australia.

However, it hasn't stopped them singing, drinking and bonding in a wintry Brisbane.

It is 125 years since the first Lions tour and the fans are letting Australia know they have landed and mean business.

The Pig 'n' Whistle pub in the city centre has become the "Lions' Den" - feeding and watering the fans, making sure they get their pints and pies and that they are in good voice as the Lions take on the Wallabies.

Fan James Parker told Sky News: "It's been a great build up so far.

"We have been here for just over a day and the pubs are starting to fill up. Landing at the airport they had the bagpipes ready, so yes, there is a buzz around town."

Fans will be hoping the Lions can recover from their loss to the Brumbies

The unique nature of the Lions' tour means sworn enemies coming together with a common cause.

The team walking into the Suncorp Stadium on June 22 contains eight Welshmen.

One fan, fresh in from Merthyr Tydfil, said: "We are proud of the Lions, and we are good Welshmen, so if we win we are going to sing Swing Low, Sweet Chariot - we will do it!"

The fans will be a significant force behind the British and Irish Lions who have never lost a Test in Brisbane.

In 2001, the sea of red in the stadium caught the Australians off guard.

Former Welsh international Scott Quinnell played all three Tests 12 years ago and knows how important the red army will be.

"When we were at The Gabba it was incredible," he told Sky News.

Welshman Sam Warburton is captaining the British and Irish Lions

"We warmed up inside and when we walked up through the tunnel it was hands and flags and you had to fight your way out of the tunnel. 

"You could see the pitch and you looked round and there was this sea of red.

"I'd never seen it before and I think that's when it started for the Lions and hopefully will see that again."

The influx of 70,000 visitors to Brisbane has been a major boost for the city's tourism industry.

"It's definitely one of the busiest weekends we have seen in a very long time," said Anne-Maree Moon from Brisbane Marketing.

"Our hoteliers are jumping through the roof. They have full occupancy and everyone is very buoyant and feeling great about it."

The Lions are favourites, especially because of Australia's recent history of embarrassing starts to a Test season and lack of a warm-up match.

With his Wallabies coaching career on the line, Robbie Deans has taken the punt on quarantining his players in a three-week camp to refresh them from the rigours of Australia's Super Rugby and fine-tune a more attacking style in training.

The midweek defeat to the Brumbies won't have helped the Lions' morale but speak to any of the fans in Brisbane battling jet lag and they will tell you that the Lions are ready, and so are they.

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Motorway Speed Limit Plans Put In Slow Lane

Plans to raise the motorway speed limit to 80mph have been moved into the slow lane after it was decided the idea was "not a priority".

The policy change was proposed in 2011 by then Transport Secretary Philip Hammond but his successor, Patrick McLoughlin, is said not to share his enthusiasm.

Mr Hammond claimed the 70mph limit, introduced in 1965, had been "discredited" and a rise to 80mph would boost the economy.

But the idea has been condemned by road safety groups and Downing Street reportedly feared raising the speed limit would alienate women voters.

In an interview with The Times, Mr McLoughlin said the policy was not a priority: "You would have to do trials in certain areas so it's not something that's a high priority."

A source close to the Transport Secretary told the newspaper: "This is not going to happen with Patrick McLoughlin as Transport Secretary.

"Safety is paramount to him and his view of how to run the roads and he would not be confident about how you would do it."

A Department for Transport spokesman confirmed that Mr McLoughlin's reported remarks were correct.

The plans have not been completely abandoned, but are no longer a priority, said the spokesman.

Mr Hammond announced the plan at the 2011 Tory party conference, saying the 70mph limit had resulted in millions of motorists routinely breaking the law.

The 70mph speed limit was first introduced in the 1960s

He said: "The limit was introduced way back in 1965 - when the typical family car was a Ford Anglia."

He claimed a rise to 80mph would "restore the legitimacy" of the system and benefit the economy by "hundreds of millions of pounds".

But last year campaign groups estimated that raising the motorway speed limit to 80mph would cost society an extra £1bn a year, including £766m in fuel bills and more than £62m in health costs.

The groups, which include road safety charity Brake, the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) and Greenpeace, also estimated that the higher limit would lead to 25 extra deaths and 100 serious injuries a year, as well as 2.2 million more tonnes of carbon emissions.

However, Neil Greig, director of policy and research at the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: "Once again we are getting confused messages from the Department for Transport on this issue.

"With a little imagination and some investment the Dutch have shown that you can have a safe 80mph limit on the best parts of the motorway network.

"What Patrick McLoughlin has learned from Holland, however, is that the policy was not as popular as the politicians thought it would be and they promptly lost the next election."

Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said: "The real stumbling block is likely to have been enforcement.

"Police already tend to give speeding drivers some leeway, so it was quite feasible that an 80 mph limit would have actually meant 90 mph in practice and that proved a step too far for ministers."

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Baby Deaths: CQC Exec 'Wanted To Speak Out'

CQC media manager Anna Jefferson says she wanted to "actively waive her anonymity" after being implicated in an alleged cover-up of the organisation's failure to investigate baby deaths in Cumbria.

The health watchdog has revealed its ex-chief executive Cynthia Bower, her former deputy Jill Finney and Ms Jefferson were present during a discussion about deleting an internal review which criticised CQC inspections of University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, where a number of mothers and babies had died.

The three women deny that they tried to cover up the report and Ms Bower insists she "gave no instruction to delete" the report.

Since their names were revealed, Ms Bower has resigned from her current post as a non-executive trustee of the Skills for Health lobbying body, while Ms Finney has been sacked as chief commercial officer of internet domain company Nominet.

More than 30 families have taken action against Furness General - run by Morecambe Bay NHS Trust - in relation to deaths and injuries to mothers and babies since 2008.

It is claimed Ms Jefferson, who still works for the CQC, said during the key meeting, "Are you kidding me? This can never be in the public domain nor subject to FOI (a Freedom of Information request)."

Anna Jefferson denies suggesting the CQC review should be suppressed

But Ms Jefferson told Sky News she "felt sick" and wanted to waive her anonymity when she realised she was implicated in a review by City consultants Grant Thornton, which was published on Wednesday.

She said she does not remember any instruction to delete the review being given and denies suggesting it could never be made public.

She claimed she pushed for proper external scrutiny of the CQC's actions regarding Morecambe Bay "several times", the last time on July 17, 2012, during a meeting where the CQC's current chief executive David Behan was present.

She said: "The thought of what the families who have lost babies at this hospital have gone through is heartbreaking.

The Health Secretary said those behind any "cover-up" could lose pensions

"I would never have conspired to cover up anything which could have led to a better understanding of what went wrong in the regulation of this hospital and I am absolutely devastated that I have been implicated in this way."

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has suggested that current or former CQC staff found to have been involved in a cover-up could be stripped of their pensions.

He said the CQC must follow "due process" but he would back the regulator "absolutely to the hilt" if it chose to take action against individuals.

Asked what action should be taken against those responsible, Mr Hunt told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "These are very, very serious allegations and they should have very, very serious consequences if they are proved.

Joshua Titcombe's family raised concerns after he died at Furness Hospital

"I know the CQC are looking into disciplinary procedures and what can be done, what sanctions are available, whether you can have forfeiture of pensions, all those things.

"There has to be due process, but... it is totally appalling that this kind of thing should happen. It's exactly what shouldn't be happening in our NHS.

"It lets down the millions of doctors and nurses who do an amazing job day in, day out, and we have to root it out."

Morecambe Bay NHS Trust was given a clean bill of health by the CQC in 2010, but an internal review was ordered by the hospital regulator in 2011 into how failings resulting in deaths had gone unnoticed.

Grant Thornton's investigation found that the report was not made public because it was decided it was too critical of the CQC.

The investigators concluded this "might well have constituted a deliberate cover-up" by the CQC employees who decided it should not be made public.

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Lollipop Lady Who Shielded Children Praised

The family of a lollipop lady have praised her bravery after she reportedly shielded children from an out-of-control car.

Karin Williams suffered several broken bones in the crash outside Rhws Primary School in the village of Rhoose, near Barry.

The 50-year-old is being treated at University Hospital of Wales (UHW), Cardiff, where a schoolgirl remains in intensive care and three other youngsters have been treated for their injuries.

Mrs Williams' husband Lyndon told WalesOnline: "We are so proud of her and what she did ... we love her so much.

"She cannot remember too much about the crash at the minute but all she keeps asking about is the children.

The crash happened on a crossing outside Rhws Primary School

"She suffered two broken patellas (kneecaps), a broken elbow, a broken shoulder and she has a badly swollen face but she is going to be OK."

The 61-year-old driver of the black Audi that overturned smashing into the crossing where a number of children were waiting told BBC Wales: "I haven't a clue what happened."

He was taking his grand-daughter to the school when the accident happened. Both of them suffered cuts and bruises.

Mr Bell told BBC Wales: "I was stationary and my grand-daughter said I coughed and the next thing I knew I'm coming round and I'd been unconscious and upside down."

The damaged car was lifted onto a recovery truck after the accident

Police are treating what happened as an accident and are due to interview Mr Bell.

Rhws Primary School, which was open to pupils on Friday, is offering counselling to pupils, parents and staff who were affected by the accident.

Headteacher Louise Lynn said: "Children in school are coping well.  We are maintaining a normal routine as much as possible and this is helping them to manage."

Of the other casualties, a second adult admitted to UHW has been discharged.

A woman remains in a "comfortable and satisfactory condition" at Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend, where another adult and a child were allowed home after receiving treatment.

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Google Faces Criminal Action Over Data Theft

Internet giant Google has been threatened with criminal proceedings if it does not destroy personal data collected from wifi networks.

The internet giant has been handed an enforcement notice by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) after further personal data unlawfully collected by its Street View cars was discovered.

The watchdog has demanded that it destroy four discs containing information it took from unsecured wifi networks.

Google had previously pledged to destroy all data collected in this manner - but admitted last year that it had "accidentally" retained the additional discs.

The ICO has warned Google that failure to comply with the legal order will be considered as contempt of court, which is a criminal offence.

A statement from the ICO said an investigation found that the collection of payload data by the company was the result of procedural failings and a serious lack of management oversight, including checks on the code behind the software.

But, it added, the investigation also found there was insufficient evidence to show that Google intended, on a corporate level, to collect personal data.

Stephen Eckersley, ICO Head of Enforcement, said: "Today's enforcement notice strengthens the action already taken by our office, placing a legal requirement on Google to delete the remaining payload data identified last year within the next 35 days and immediately inform the ICO if any further disks are found.

"Failure to abide by the notice will be considered as contempt of court, which is a criminal offence." 

"The early days of Google Street View should be seen as an example of what can go wrong if technology companies fail to understand how their products are using personal information.

"The punishment for this breach would have been far worse, if this payload data had not been contained."

The ICO's decision followed the reopening of its investigation into the Google Street View project in April last year.

The decision followed the publication of a report by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which raised concerns around the actions of the engineer who developed the software previously used by the cars, and his managers.

The ICO added that its investigation into whether Google's privacy policy complies with the Data Protection Act is on-going.

This investigation is part of coordinated action by data protection regulators across Europe, to assess whether Google's latest privacy policy clearly explains how individuals' personal information is being used across the company's products and services.

The ICO said it would shortly be writing to Google to confirm its preliminary findings.

Google has yet to make a comment.

More follows...

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Jeremy Forrest Admits Child Sex Charges

A teacher who fled to France with a 15-year-old pupil and spent a week on the run has admitted five counts of sexual activity with a child.

Jeremy Forrest, who was convicted by a jury of abducting the schoolgirl, pleaded guilty to the additional charges as he returned to Lewes Court Court.

He insists he still loves the youngster, who broke down in tears and told him she was "sorry" as jurors returned their verdict on Thursday.

The 30-year-old, of Petts Wood, London, had sex with the teenager shortly after her 15th birthday.

Rumours of their relationship surfaced in February last year, when the pair were spotted holding hands during a flight on a school trip to Los Angeles.

The girl, now 16, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted having a crush on Forrest, who taught at Bishop Bell Church of England School in Eastbourne, East Sussex.

They exchanged flirty text messages, tweets and photographs but denied any wrongdoing when pressed by the school.

Fearing their relationship was about to be exposed when police were alerted last September, Forrest abducted the youngster and took her on a cross-Channel ferry to France, where they spent a week on the run.

The couple dyed their hair, assumed false names and dropped a mobile phone into the English Channel in an effort to avoid being caught, but were tracked down after a Europe-wide search.

During his trial, the prosecution labelled 30-year-old Forrest a "paedophile" and said he "groomed" the vulnerable teenager.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Ling, of Sussex Police, said: "As a teacher, Jeremy Forrest was in a position of responsibility, authority and trust over the children in his care, which included this young, vulnerable victim.

"He grossly abused the trust placed in him and his actions caused distress and anxiety amongst parents, family members and the school community."

A spokesman for Bishop Bell School said the staff "only had very limited anecdotal hearsay and no evidence of relationship" when concerns were first raised.

He said that before Forrest fled the country, the school had intended to remove him from the classroom while an internal investigation into possible professional misconduct was carried out.

The spokesman said staff remained "deeply shocked by the actions of Mr Forrest and his betrayal of the trust that was placed in him".

"It is important that the strongest possible message is sent to all who work with children that they hold a position of responsibility and trust for the lives, and wellbeing, of those in their care," he said.

"We take our responsibility extremely seriously and our safeguarding policies and procedures are robust.

"However, we are determined to implement any learning from these events to ensure that all pupils at the school are as safe as they possibly could be."

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Bulgaria Balcony Fall Death: Brit Teen Killed

A "popular and well-liked" British teenager has died after apparently plunging 10 floors from a hotel balcony while on holiday in Bulgaria.

Liam Davies, 19, was believed to have fallen more than 130ft to his death after returning to the hotel in a taxi with friends on Sunday following a night out.

They did not have enough money to pay the fare and so Mr Davies reportedly went to his 10th-floor room to get some cash, but never returned.

When his friends went to look for him they found his body on the ground below the room's balcony. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim, known as Shaun, was on a package holiday in the popular resort of Sunny Beach on the Black Sea coast.

Mr Davies, from Llanelli, south Wales, worked as a customer care assistant for McDonald's at the town's Trostre Retail Park.

"We are extremely saddened by the news of the death of Liam Davies, known to McDonald's friends and colleagues as Shaun," said Ann Jones, business manager of the restaurant.

"He was an extremely popular and well-liked member of the team and we are working to support our staff at this very difficult time."

Friends also paid tribute on social networking websites Facebook and Twitter.

Alison White wrote: "Still in total shock over the death of Shaun - why is it that only the good die young? It was such a privilege knowing Shaun he was one of life's kindest, funniest, most caring people."

A spokeswoman for travel firm Thomas Cook confirmed "the tragic death of Mr Liam Davies whilst on holiday in Bulgaria".

She added: "Our thoughts and sympathies are with Liam's family and friends, and our team in resort are providing their total support during this very difficult time."

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: "We can confirm a British national has died at the Sunny Beach resort, in Bulgaria.

"We are liaising with the authorities in the country and consular assistance is being offered."

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Teen Rail Deaths: Father Says Son Was Happy

The father of a teenager who was killed by a train in a suspected suicide pact with a school friend has said his son was a "happy person".

Mert Karaoglan, 18, and Charleigh Disbrey, 15, died after being hit by a First Capital Connect service close to Elstree and Borehamwood station in Hertfordshire on Monday night.

At least one suicide note is believed to have been found at the scene, it was reported, and British Transport Police are not treating the deaths as suspicious.

Mert, reportedly a budding film-maker, and Charleigh, an aspiring musician, were killed shortly before 9pm, 200 yards from the station by an empty passenger train. They had climbed over a fence close by.

The pair, from Borehamwood, attended the local Hertswood Academy, where Mert was in Year 13 and Charleigh in Year 10.

The youngsters were struck close to Elstree and Borehamwood station

Mert's father, named by The Sun newspaper as Sakru, 48, said "everything seemed okay" with his son.

He told the newspaper Mert had been watching television at his home when he said he was "going out for one or two hours".

He said: "We told him not to be out late. We were waiting and waiting. Then the police came round to see us at nine this morning. I can't stop crying."

Floral tributes to the teenagers and cards were left outside the school's gates. One card read: "To Mert, thinking of you always, bless your soul and may you rest in peace friend."

Another read: "Sleep tight angel. RIP CJ and Mert, never forgotten."

Friends of the pair took to social media to express their shock and grief.

Writing with the Twitter name @lav--gecaj27m, one girl said: "R.I.P Cj and Mert such wonderful and talented people, you will be truly missed xxxxx."

Another girl, @CoverGirlLi, wrote: "Still can't believe it. Rip Mert and CJ," while @ShannReade said: "Situations like this just do not make sense, RIP Mert and CJ."

A Facebook tribute page also saw friends and well-wishers express their grief and sympathy.

Robert Twiner, from Edgware in northwest London, wrote: "R.I.P To my beautiful cousin Cj. We are thinking about you every second xxx."

"At peace and with the angels. God Bless," was the message left by Peter George Bailey.

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Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans Faces More Claims

Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons Nigel Evans has been arrested on suspicion of three more counts of indecent assault.

The 55-year-old was formally informed of the new claims as he answered bail at Preston Police Station.

He already faced allegations he raped one man and sexually assaulted another between July 2009 and March 2013.

The MP strenuously denies the claims.

A Lancashire Constabulary spokesperson said: "He will be interviewed about these allegations at a police station in Lancashire during the course of the day.

"We take all allegations of a sexual nature extremely seriously and understand how difficult it can be for victims to have the confidence to come forward.

"As a Constabulary, we are committed to investigating sexual offences sensitively but robustly recognising the impact that these types of crimes have on victims.

"We would encourage anyone who has experienced sexual abuse, or who has information about it, to have the confidence to report it to us knowing that we will take it seriously, deal with it sensitively and investigate it thoroughly."

Speaking three days after his initial arrest on May 4, he said he was having "just a few days off chair duty" but would continue having his regular meetings with Speaker John Bercow.

He said he had been "overwhelmed" by the reaction from MPs and the amount of "sympathy" he had received from the public.

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NHS Watchdog In 'Hospital Scandal Cover-Up'

Senior officials at an NHS watchdog have been accused of a cover-up after destroying their own report into a hospital maternity unit at the centre of a care scandal.

An independent investigation has found the Care Quality Commission failed to properly inspect University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, where the deaths of up to 16 babies are being investigated by the police.

Concerns were first raised in 2008, but in 2010 the CQC gave the trust, which serves 365,000 people in South Cumbria and North Lancashire, a clean bill of health.

Joshua Titcombe died in Furness General Hospital after staff failures

Wednesday's report suggests that CQC bosses were so concerned about protecting the watchdog's reputation that they ordered an internal review to be deleted because it showed that their original inspection was flawed.

The new report details one official saying that he was told by a senior manager in March last year to destroy his review because it would expose the regulator to public criticism.

Furness General Hospital in Cumbria, which has been criticised

It says: "He informed us that he was instructed by a member of senior management at CQC to 'delete' the report of his findings.

"We think that the information contained in the report was sufficiently important that the deliberate failure to provide it could properly be characterised as a 'cover-up'."

MP Tim Farron called for an urgent question to be tabled in the Commons

Stephen Dorrell, chair of the Health Select Committee, told Sky News: "This report makes very depressing reading.

"Unfortunately it repeats many of the points that have been made or gives further colour or substance to concerns and complaints.as a regulator.

But he added: "The new management is willing to face the truth and this report is part of that process of facing the truth about the record of the CQC."

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is due to make an announcement in the Commons following Prime Minister's Questions this afternoon.

James Titcombe, whose baby son Joshua died aged just nine days old in Furness General Hospital in 2008 after staff failed to spot and treat an infection, described the report as "shocking".

"It embodies everything that is wrong with the culture in the NHS. It's something that's been rotten really about the system," he said.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is to make a statement after PMQs

"We need it to change. We need that culture to change. Patient safety should be the number one priority, and organisations that work within regulation need to be aligned with that principle."

Responding to the report's findings, the regulator said: "We let people down, and we apologise for that.

"This report reveals just how poor the Care Quality Commission's (CQC) oversight of University Hospitals Morecambe Bay (UHMB) was in 2010.

"This is not the way things should have happened. It is not the way things will happen in the future. We will use the report to inform the changes we are making to improve the way we work and the way we are run."

It insisted there was "no evidence of a systematic cover-up" and promised "more thorough inspections".

CQC chairman David Prior said: "The publication draws a line in the sand for us. What happened in the past was wholly unacceptable.

"The report confirms our view that at a senior level the organisation was dysfunctional. The board and the senior executive team have been radically changed."

Westmorland General Hospital, where Morecambe Bay NHS Trust is based

Shadow health minister Jamie Reed said: "First, we need to know who took the decision to delete this report, who else was party to the decision and what the justification was for so doing.

"Second, urgent clarity is needed on whether the CQC had any contact with the Department of Health about this matter and if so, what was the nature of that contact."

The CQC, which faces at least 30 civil negligence claims, is to be subject to a public inquiry.

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TV Licence Dodgers' Excuses In Video Campaign

Officials have exposed some of the excuses people give for not having a television licence.

One thought he was exempt because his pet corgi was said to be related to one of the Queen's dogs.

Another household claimed they merely used the glow from the set as a lamp to help them read.

More than 400,000 people were caught last year watching TV without valid paperwork, which is more than 1,000 a day.

The annual levy - £145 for a colour licence and £49 for a black and white - is used to help fund the BBC's domestic television, radio and internet services.

TV Licensing has launched a drive to encourage more people to pay up and has teamed with a Bafta-winning animator to bring some of the excuses to life in a short-film, published on YouTube.

One person is said to have told officials they did not bother to buy a licence because they had stolen the TV set.

"Joking and wacky excuses apart, it's breaking the law to watch live television without a licence, so anybody doing this risks prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000," said spokesman Stephen Farmer.

"Some of the excuses are simply hilarious whilst others show a great deal of imagination and creativity, but being caught without a valid TV licence is a criminal offence and no laughing matter."

The revenue-raising authority provides reduced rates for certain people.

Those certified as either blind or severely sight-impaired are entitled to a 50% reduction in the fee.

Care home residents may qualify for a discounted fee of £7.50, but are warned that residents, staff and residents' families all need a separate licence for their own living area.

Senior citizens are entitled to a free licence when they reach the age of 75.

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Murray Walker Reveals He Is Fighting Cancer

Motor sport commentator Murray Walker is to have chemotherapy over the next few months after being diagnosed with cancer.

The 89-year-old said he had a form of lymphatic system cancer, but said the condition was treatable.

He told the BBC: "They've caught it incredibly early. It's treatable, the doctors say my condition is mild and I'm very hopeful."

Walker was diagnosed with the illness during tests after breaking his pelvis in a fall last month.

His distinctive commentating style became synonymous with motor racing as he covered the sport for more than half a century before retiring in 2001.

According to the Cancer Research UK website, the lymphatic system is a system of thin tubes that runs throughout the body. These tubes are called lymph vessels or lymphatic vessels.

The lymphatic system is like the blood circulation - the vessels branch through all parts of the body like the arteries and veins that carry blood.

But the lymphatic system tubes are much finer and carry a colourless liquid called lymph, which contains a high number of lymphocytes or white blood cells.

Plasma leaks out of the capillaries to surround and bathe the body tissues. This then drains into the lymph vessels.

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UK Weather: Hottest Days Of Summer So Far

Britain is expected to bask in its hottest days of the year so far today and tomorrow, forecasters say.

Temperatures are expected to reach highs of 26 to 30°C (79-86°F) in the south east of England.

But it does not look to be a completely dry day.

The heat will trigger some heavy showers and thunderstorms across southern England and East Anglia, lasting into the night.

Weather experts say this wet end is not unusual.

Sky News Weather Presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "This pattern of weather is not unusual at this time of year.

"In fact, it is well summarised by the well-known, if somewhat tongue in cheek, definition of a British summer - three fine days then a thunderstorm."

For those further north and in the west of the UK and in Ireland it will remain drier but not as hot.

On Thursday, temperatures will fall back to the low 20Cs.

The welcome warm blast follows what the Met Office said was the coldest spring since 1962.

There was a mean temperature across March, April and May of 6C (43F), which is calculated as being 1.7C below the long-term average.

:: Proud of your photo skills? Upload your pictures to the glorious summer section on Sky's Your Photos.

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Army Cuts: Thousands Told They Will Lose Jobs

Nearly 4,500 Army staff have been given their redundancy notices in the latest round of staff cuts, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

A total of 4,480 are being axed as the Government tries to reduce the number of regulars by about 20% to 82,000.

Sky's Defence Correspondent David Bowden said those who take voluntary redundancy will be leaving within six months, and compulsory reundancies will be complete in a year.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the move was necessary to help balance the books, but insisted operational capability would not be affected.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has confirmed there will be no further reductions in manpower in the next round of spending cuts.

Announcing the latest tranche of redundancies, the third to arise from the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review, he said: "It is with great regret that we have had to make redundancies to deliver the reduction in the size of the armed forces, but unfortunately they were unavoidable due to the size of the defence deficit that this Government inherited.

 "Although smaller, our armed forces will be more flexible and agile to reflect the challenges of the future with the protection and equipment they need.

Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said the redundancy notices being issued today "represent not just broken promises but a failing strategy" to reform the Army.

"There is a huge effort going into sacking soldiers, but nowhere near as much is being done to plug the gap by recruiting new reservists," he said.

"These redundancies represent not just broken promises but a failing strategy, and the level of voluntary applicants will be a signal of morale."

The MoD said: "Tough decisions needed to be made to address the multibillion-pound deficit and bring the defence budget back into balance.

"This unfortunately included making some redundancies across the armed forces. However we can be clear that these reductions will not affect our operational capability.

"The end of combat operations in Afghanistan and the restructuring of our armed forces means they will be more reflective of the complex global situation and more adaptable to future challenges and threats."

Chancellor George Osborne, speaking from the G8 Summit in Northern Ireland earlier, said Britain had to make "difficult decisions" about spending to "live within its means".

He told Sky News: "We've got to have an Army we can afford ...

"And when it comes to the military what we've said is we want to make sure that Britain can still project itself abroad, defend itself at home, and that our soldiers have all the latest equipment they need to do that.

"As part of these changes, yes there have been difficult decisions about getting the size of the Army right, but we're also purchasing for them the latest equipment."

Both the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir David Richards, and the Head of the Army, General Sir Peter Wall, are concerned about the impact of further defence cuts.

Sir Peter has exclusively told Sky News that Britain's chances of success on the battlefields of the future could be at serious risk if the Army was downsized in the latest spending review, the results of which will be announced next week.

The Prime Minister was forced to respond to Sir Peter's comments by saying there would be no further staff cuts to the Army, Navy or Air Force.

British Army spokesman Major General James Chiswell told Sky News it was a "hard day" for staff but that the redundancies had been carried out "as fairly as we could hope for".

Personnel are being offered help with resettling into civilian life.

:: Britain's Last War? The Jeff Randall documentary on the impact of Army spending cuts is on Sky News, Tuesday at 8.30pm.

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