you date is the 7th of may 2020. you right to seek the governments urgent action to get routine ethnic information on deaths, and you say evidence is emerging that black and ethnic minority communities may be disproportionately affected by covid, including deaths, from this virus. in your third covid, including deaths, from this virus. in yourthird paragraph covid, including deaths, from this virus. in your third paragraph of your concerns were that lack of ethnic data recording in death registrations was holding us back from getting a full picture. it would seem, correct me if i am wrong, that you receive no immediate reply to that letter, is that right? a couple of weeks later, i wrote to the home secretary because of my concern about lack of response. it occurred to me that the government did not really understand issues that i was talking about. you mentioned the phrase structural inequality, structural racism. it

goes to the point i made about the advantage of the politicians and decision makers and cobra having their own experiences, it is not a criticism, is an observation, very few there could understand. intergenerational households, people live with mum, dad, grandfather, parents. also, to get around london you have to use buses, and the tube. some breaking news, this is about a deal that the british medical association has reached with the government over pay and conditions of senior doctors. there has in long—running disputes. more on this with our health editor in the newsroom. there have been several weeks of

talks and we have not been very clear that what the outcome is going to be. but we havejust learned clear that what the outcome is going to be. but we have just learned that the british medical association consultants committee has agreed a deal with health officials for england, endorsed by ministers, that will at least be put to members. that will last two months. that means no strikes during that period. it lifts the risks of further strikes overwinter, though doesn't rule out the possibility if the members reject the deal. what is the deal? initially, 6% of a pay rise was put out there, awarded to consultants in england. they said that wasn't enough. they look for may be double that. the deal involves four point 95% of extra government money going in on top of that 6%, but it will not actually be paid out until april, the beginning of the next financial year, and is backdated. it is quite complicated.

there will be a review and reform of the banding system, that will be simplified. some consultants will get may be 66% in april next year. some won't get any more. it is very complex. —— some may get double 6%. the government will feel that they have got efficiency commitments to make the whole system work a bit better. this banding system i think was seen as a bit of a barrier to actually making the system more efficient and encouraging junior consultants, and also the most senior, with their pay awards. some of the money is being saved by abolishing that merit awards that were being put out there. some of it is not new money. but there is an agreement now which would be put to members, amongst consultants, but of

course that still leaves the junior doctors. just remind us how long this dispute has been going on for, and how much a structure that has caused because the government have blamed a lot of those strike days for adding hugely to the waiting list in the nhs. yes, strikes in the nhs in england began nearly a year ago with nurses, and most of the health unions have settled on pay, it is the doctors, and a couple of other groups of health workers still in dispute, but a large number certainly settled. it is more than a million operations and appointments that have been cancelled in england because of strikes. nhs leaders have been very concerned about this, and of course patients, the possible to do this will run through the winter. we know now that consultants will not take any action, certainly over the key winter months of december and january, while they vote, but the junior doctors have a separate p disputes, and there is no news from talks there at all. it is perfectly possible that they will decide to

stage further strike action if the talks ran out of steam. we simply don't know about that. certainly a relief for nhs leaders and patients that one group of doctors has reached an agreement. what about the government? there has been criticism, there certainly was in the past, over how the former secretary of state for health was dealing with these strikes, we have got a new one in the past few weeks, has added a difference? yes, victoria atkins took over from steve barclay not much more than a week ago, and has had limited might have time to get up to speed. i'm told that these were very technocratic talks, involving officials and bma representatives, and it didn't really involve a whole lot of ministerial involvement, but she will shortly have to put her name to this deal, and she is of the content fit to go forward, and there will be a statement i think from her and other government sources later

in the day. thank you for bringing us that breaking news, and that analysis in detail on it. plenty more of that story in the coming hours. now, back to the covid—i9 inquiry stop mayor of london continues to give his evidence. can we go to the next page, this is a letter that is co—signed by you, also by councillor peterjohn obe, chairperson of london councils, in which you told us there were 32, is that right? you learned about this in a newspaper, presumably 2nd of august 2020? that this in a newspaper, presumably 2nd of august 2020?— of august 2020? that is right. going back to previous _ of august 2020? that is right. going back to previous question _ of august 2020? that is right. going back to previous question about - back to previous question about being the voice of london, these are 32 boroughs, three different

particle parties, plus the city of london corporation. some outer london, some inner london, some in central london. you generate confidence because we had a trusted ally of the government. it makes local relationships very difficult when we are discovering staff in newspapers. this was more than even just stuff, this was a plan for major researchers in london, incorporating your view, or researchers in london, incorporating yourview, orat researchers in london, incorporating your view, or at least those of the 32 london councils. in practical terms what was the impact of your exclusion from contingency planning such as this? in my view, as not being trusted meant that we couldn't get the advice from the coal it may have made a difference. we now know that the entire country went into lockdown in november. i think that could have been avoided had you been involved earlier. more important

than that, i think lives may not have been lost. it upsets even i think of the londoners that lost their lives because of the pandemic, 105 transport workers lost their lives because of the pandemic, i think fewer lives would have been lost had there been a better response from the government, throughjudgment, poor through judgment, poor decision—making. it through judgment, poor decision-making. throughjudgment, poor decision-makinu. , ., decision-making. it may be that the answer is my _ decision-making. it may be that the answer is my final _ decision-making. it may be that the answer is my final question, - decision-making. it may be that the answer is my final question, it - answer is my final question, it wasn't until ist answer is my final question, it wasn't until 1st of october, some two months later, that she received a response to this letter, the response came from matt hancock, in which he acknowledged that effective local management of any outbreak was critical. did you, having a seat that sponsored the 1st of october, and of course we know that is before the second lockdown, did you consider that response adequately engaged with or address the concerns that you had raised? ha. engaged with or address the concerns that you had raised?—

that you had raised? no. the last cobra that — that you had raised? no. the last cobra that i _ that you had raised? no. the last cobra that i attended _ that you had raised? no. the last cobra that i attended was - that you had raised? no. the last cobra that i attended was in - that you had raised? no. the last cobra that i attended was in me, | cobra that i attended was in me, that's it at all.— that's it at all. thank you. thank you- _ good afternoon. i am representing the federation of ethnic minority health care organisations. i have got two questions for you. my first as this. recognising the challenges posed by the evolving nature of this pandemic, my organisation wants to know the timeline of responses, but they acknowledge the complexity of they acknowledge the complexity of the situation so my first question.

firstly, in your evidence, in your statement, you refer to a thematic lack of munication between yourself and government. during the essential early stages. and you state you have no doubt that lives were lost as a result. what impact do you think this had in the context of black, asian, minority ethnic health inequalities on what could have been done differently in the context of black, asian minority ethnic health inequalities had there been clearer and earlier communications? because we still don't record if the city of death certificates, —— still don't record ethnicity of death certificates, in relation to health

workers, i heard stories about londoners who are filipinos who thought they had to work in the water without ppe because their visas may be taken away, and these are londoners by the way. in relation to transport for london, which i am responsible for, i asked for some work to be done in march, april about the impact on our workers, the reached conclusions which reacted upon. 0ur buses were made much more safe because we were cognisant of the impacts upon our workers, particularly because a big proportion of our transport workers are black asian minority ethnic, also health workers and social care workers, so people using the middle do a runner in the front door, ventilation on buses, that is what i had responsibility for. i cannot

answerfor had responsibility for. i cannot answer for social care, health care, retail, where others had responsible to. i do know this though. i was reminded at the weekend in for today, a reference to a meeting with borisjohnson in between 16th march and 20th of march, and the minutes of that meeting shall i referred to zero—hours contract, gig economy, both of those have higher than normal representation from black minority communities, and lack of support for those people. if you cannot put food on the table and a roof over your head without working, or go to work, what are you going to do? those are self—employed, for the first few months, only got statutory sick pay. disproportionately those people tend to be black, asian,

minority ethnics. ijust want to minority ethnics. i just want to put this in context. giving your prior knowledge in relation to health inequalities, including your statutory responsibility to publish the health and equality strategy, the fact you see in your statement that you are aware of and had drawn attention to negative health outcomes, because of the pandemic, as well as increasing information that was coming through at the early stages of the pandemic, such as by late january there was concern about the virus building, and a considerable amount of work being done looking at the emergency risk, we can also agree that in your

statement between february and march 2020 members of your team were meeting the london resilience forum and public health england representatives almost on a daily basis. the 2nd of march 2020 the strategic coordination group was established, we know that. and by the 11th of march 2020 you were told by the chief medical officer that there was going to be a global pandemic. the first proactive step you took in addressing the issue of minority asian health inequalities was in me, i think that was the 7th of may. my question is, difficult situation, there is not good communication between government and your office, can you just help, because my members would like to know, what more could and should have been done? to

know, what more could and should have been done?— have been done? to complete the icture it have been done? to complete the picture it is _ have been done? to complete the picture it is worth _ have been done? to complete the picture it is worth stating - have been done? to complete the picture it is worth stating what - have been done? to complete the picture it is worth stating what did j picture it is worth stating what did happen in advance of that. in advance of the meeting with chris whitty we had organised for enhanced cleaning of public transport. important for commuters, but also workers, there is a disproportionate number of black ethnic minority workers. as you go to st patrick's day, big london community of irish descent, one of the things i race with the prime minister between the first cobra and second meeting i went to was the importance of financial support. —— one of the things i raised. i wrote to the prime ministers suggesting things he could do to address the issue, financial support. i am do to address the issue, financial support. iam not do to address the issue, financial support. i am not sure if the decision makers understood the

impact of lack of financial support on a city like london which is 4% minority ethnic, how we get around. issues around housing, i am not sure if the government understood, if you catch the virus because you work in a shop, that is bad enough, you go home to mum and dad who live with you, that child who may have asthma, i'm not sure if the government understood that, early doors. issue of overcrowding. issues around, actually, to advocate for ppe, someone who is a porter, someone who is a filipino nurse working in the nhs, a bus driver. it is challenging. i'm not sure the government got that. we work closely to make sure that our trade unions, who were fantastic, rmt, aslef, and others as i was responsible for, others as i was responsible for, other tragedies were being proactive

in relation to their members, hospitals, social care. it has been pointed out, the lobbying for personal protective equipment, lobbying with council leaders as well, it goes back to the point, as imperfect as it is, the advantage of cobra as those experience people have around the table for politicians which adds to the conclusion the prime minister makes it comes to making decisions, i saw the value added in grateful, i saw the value added in grateful, i saw the value added as mayor of london with the terror attacks of 2009 in 2017, and also to make sure her majesty's funeral was safe. i was not there in cobra. more lives could have been saved,

surely? more lives could have been saved, surel ? ., , more lives could have been saved, surel ? . , . ,., ., surely? that is the conclusion of ucl when _ surely? that is the conclusion of ucl when it _ surely? that is the conclusion of ucl when it came _ surely? that is the conclusion of ucl when it came to _ surely? that is the conclusion of ucl when it came to bus - surely? that is the conclusion of ucl when it came to bus driver, | surely? that is the conclusion of - ucl when it came to bus driver, that upsets me. the conclusion was had there been locked down sooner they would have been less social and community transmission, having brought in the changes in the basque carriages and depots, tube stations, fewer people would have lost their lives —— in the bus carriages. less transmission of the disease. had these catholics been brought in sooner those asymptomatic may not pass it on. —— had those measures been brought in sooner. less impact on health care and hospitals?— less impact on health care and hositals? �* ., ., ., , hospitals? but also our economy. this oint hospitals? but also our economy. this point about _ hospitals? but also our economy. this point about the _ hospitals? but also our economy. this point about the impact - hospitals? but also our economy. this point about the impact on . hospitals? but also our economy. | this point about the impact on our economy, there seems to be a lack of

understanding about the inextricable link between lives and livelihoods. i think you have made that point. thank_ i think you have made that point. thank you — i think you have made that point. thank you very much. thank you very much _ thank you very much. thank you very much you _ thank you very much. thank you very much you are — thank you very much. thank you very much. you are now free to go. we move — much. you are now free to go. we move straight to our next witness.

we are watching the covid—i9 inquiry inquiry, where the mayor of london, sadiq khan, has been giving evidence on and off for a couple of hours. he has been talking at length about his own personal circumstances, and what he saw london going through, and how he saw london going through, and how he felt very let out of any kind of decision making, how he was kept in the dark over seriousness of the covid pandemic is stop pierce competed his evidence. this is andy mayor of manchester, being sworn in. —— andy burnham. thank you for attending today, and providing you statements, which we have seen. you had the to read the

statements? i have. you can confirm that statement is true to the better your knowledge and i can. you have a long political career, you are a member of parliament is between 2001 and 2017? you held a number of ministerial roles in government during that period, including but not limited to, minister of state for health in 2006, chief secretary to the treasury from 2070 2008, and you held two cabinets roles, between 2008 and 2010, first the secretary of state for culture, media and sport, and then, perhaps more relevant for our purposes, you were secretary of state for health, from 5th ofjune 2009, to 11th of may 2010. you'll come back to that in due course, that's relevant, during

that time you were secretary of state, during the swine flu pandemic. i walked into the department of health in earlyjune 2009, three days later a global pandemic was declared, and i have always said to the former secretary of state, alan johnson who was walking out the door on the other direction, he was a master of political timing always, i think that demonstrates it. let us see if we can master time a city in relation to your evidence. we will touch on, perhaps after a master of political timing always, i think that demonstrates it. let us see if we can master timely city in relation to your evidence. we will touch on, perhaps after lunch, the position, your observations regarding swine flu, pandemic, covid. after you left government, you held a number of positions in opposition as a shadow secretary of state english to education, health, shadow home secretary. i state english to education, health, shadow home secretary.— shadow home secretary. i was. you were _ shadow home secretary. i was.

you were elected _ shadow home secretary. i was. you were elected as _ shadow home secretary. i was. you were elected as mayor - shadow home secretary. i was. you were elected as mayor of l shadow home secretary. i was. - you were elected as mayor of greater manchester in 2017, you can win your second term as that. how does mayor of manchester for ten, structurally, is this a fair summary? there is greater manchester combined authority, that is the upper tier of local government, sitting above but alongside the ten metropolitan borough councils within greater manchester? yes, the greater manchester combined authority is the ten councils, unlike the gla, which is a separate body in a government. it is the ten councils come together to create gm ce, we sit alongside, i am one of 11, you could see stop but may be, the captain of that 11. it covers a population of greater manchester, approximately 2.8

million. you are chairperson of gmac, you steer the work on economy, police, fire services. the mayor does not have public health function? hat have public health function? not directl . have public health function? iirrt directly. although we have extensive devolution agreement, the things that i am responsible for, like housing, other things, that i am responsible for, like housing, otherthings, do impact directly on health, and public health. , ~ ., directly on health, and public health. , . ., , directly on health, and public health. , . ., health. yes. when one compares your role as mayor— health. yes. when one compares your role as mayor of— health. yes. when one compares your role as mayor of greater _ health. yes. when one compares your role as mayor of greater manchester, | role as mayor of greater manchester, and the authority of the greater london authority, there is a great —— there is a difference? there is. a difference in relation to civil contingency efforts. yes, the gla, and the mayor is

designated category one responder in civic —— civil contingencies act, thatis civic —— civil contingencies act, that is not the case in greater manchester combined authority or any other combined authority. category one responder has a duty to plan, prepare, train and respond to an emergency? yes. we played that role in covid pandemic at greater manchester level, i convened a covid emergency committee to sit above, if you like, that local resilience forum, so that we were working in a highlyjoined up we were working in a highlyjoined up way across the whole of our city and region. but formally we do not have that designation under the civil contingencies act, and it would be helpful if we did. we will return to that _ would be helpful if we did. we will return to that at _ would be helpful if we did. we will return to that at the _ would be helpful if we did. we will return to that at the end _ would be helpful if we did. we will return to that at the end in - would be helpful if we did. we will return to that at the end in terms | return to that at the end in terms of lessons learned going forward.

you talked to paul about local resilience, this matter you talked about local resilience with a number of category one responder some together. yes, and the greater manchester resilience forum played a huge role in stealing us through our response to covid. move on to the next topic, the early days, awareness of covid, leading up to the first lockdown. i could perhaps summarise your evidence, you see that you first became aware of covid three media reports, your first real engagement was through the local chinese community in manchester, and there is a strong chinese community in manchester. that is correct. manchester as a city as a long—standing twinning arrangement with wuhan. some of the familial connections at our chinese

community had with that area. i attended two community meetings in january, and one going into early february, and the community was on a high state of alarm and is asking for my help to get ppe through manchester airport, donations sent over. i became very aware ofjust how serious the situation was in china in that period of time. it was an outward — china in that period of time. it was an outward -looking _ china in that period of time. it was an outward -looking view, - china in that period of time. it was an outward -looking view, concernj an outward —looking view, concern for those people in china, wuhan. you did mention in your statement, there was a first round table meeting on 18th february regarding covid in manchester, but it was only until ist covid in manchester, but it was only until 1st of march that the strategic coordination group was set “p strategic coordination group was set uo by strategic coordination group was set

up by the resilience forum, correct? yes, that is right. that was in response to the first covid case a greater manchester. thereafter, you describe it was only around 13th of march that perception of the seriousness of the threat of covid changed? it seriousness of the threat of covid chan . ed? . , seriousness of the threat of covid chanced? ., . ., seriousness of the threat of covid chanced? . , . ., ., seriousness of the threat of covid chanced? . , . . ., ._ changed? it was changing all the way throu . h that changed? it was changing all the way through that period. _ changed? it was changing all the way through that period. as _ changed? it was changing all the way through that period. as i _ changed? it was changing all the way through that period. as i said - through that period. as i said earlier. as someone who had experienced a pandemic in 2009, as secretary of state, i had an understanding... andy burnham, now that mayor of manchester, and was during the covid pandemic, reference they are too he was secretary of state for health 2009-2010 was secretary of state for health 2009—2010 during the swine flu pandemic. you can continue to get full

coverage of the covid inquiry on our live page, bbc news. today at one: in the last few minutes, a fresh pay offer has been made to senior doctors in england that could end their long—running dispute with the government. consultants will vote in the next few weeks on the new offer. during that time, there'll be no further strike action. we'll have the details live with our health editor in just a moment. and the other main stories on the programme this lunchtime: hopes that the current truce in gaza could be extended. ia more israelis were released by hamas overnight. in the west bank, there've been celebrations as 39 more palestinian prisoners were freed as part of the exchange deal.

i will have all the latest live from tel aviv as intensive talks continued to see if the truce can be extended for a few more days. leaked documents show the united arab emirates planned to use this year's climate change talks to make oil and gas deals. and a special award for rex the fire investigation dog, who put helped put arsonists behind bars. coming up on bbc news: tributes continue to pour in for the former england manager terry venables, with alan shearer saying, "i owe him so much — he stuck by me." good afternoon. in the last hour, a deal has been announced to settle the pay dispute between the government and nhs consultants in england,

the most senior hospital doctors.