Evening briefing Tuesday 24th March

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0:36This is the Times Radio evening briefing for Tuesday, the 24th of March. The head of Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee says Iran may be paying petty criminals to carry out attacks in the UK. Lord Beamish says it comes amid a 50 % increase in national security investigations into hostile state activity. The head of counterterrorism policing says investigations are continuing into whether Iran was behind an attack on ambulances operated by a Jewish charity. Jonathan Hall, KC, is the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation. Well, it's pretty credible. I mean, we've seen proxy attacks carried out, particularly by Russia.

1:10There was that conviction of a group of five men who torched a Ukrainian warehouse. It's something that states are very aware of. And the technique that is being used here, the technique of sabotage, which is designed to have sort of a cognitive effect, make people feel uneasy, as well as imposing a direct cost in terms of the loss and damage. That is something that states routinely use. The Conservatives have criticised Rachel Reeve's suggestion that support with energy bills will be targeted, warning that may not reach all those in need. The Chancellor told the Commons that contingency planning is underway as the economic impact of war could be significant.

1:46Conservative leader Kemi Betenhock says only her party can reduce everyone's bills. Our plan actually helps everyone. You don't need to keep borrowing money or taxing people in order to help with bills. You can actually cut taxes like the ones that are on all our energy bills in order to reduce prices for everyone. That's the best way to go. What Rachel Reeves has is not a plan. It's just yet more benefits targeted at people who they think are likely to vote for them. The head of the British Veterinary Association has told Times Radio a cap on prescription charges for pets could lead to higher vet bills.

2:18The Competition and Markets Authority says pet owners will pay no more than£21 for prescriptions. Vets will also have to tell customers about savings they could make by buying medicines online. Dr Rob Williams is president of the vet's professional body. The unintended consequences that we have concerns about is if at large volumes the supply of veterinary medicines were to shift to players outside of veterinary practice, then veterinary practices still need to generate an income in order to be financially sustainable and to open the front door every morning. And so the only other source of income that vet practices have are professional fees.

2:55Transgender children have been told they must leave the Girl Guides by September. The youth organisation says what it calls the difficult decision follows the Supreme Court ruling on biological sex. The sons of a school caretaker killed in the Nottingham attacks have criticised police for missing chances to prevent the killings. Lee and James Coates have also told the public inquiry into Velda Kellecane's crimes that they learned of their father's death through social media. And the Netflix programme Adolescence has dominated television's BAFTA nominations with 11 nods. The teenage murder drama received five nominations for its actors.

3:28You can follow the Times Radio News Briefing on Spotify and listen live to Times Radio Online.

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