Evening briefing Wednesday 21st October

0:00Good evening. The Energy Minister has told Times Radio that opening production at the Jackdaw gas field won't lower household bills. Earlier, ministers gave the green light for production at the site in the North Sea. Energy Minister Michael Shank says it will deliver gas security for the country. So it won't take a penny off bills, but the decision we've made today is one that comes from a place of strengthening our energy security. And Jack Daw, in just a few weeks, we'll be able to start bringing gas onto the system at St Fergus above Aberdeen and into the pipes that will heat people's homes this winter.

0:33So it's important from that point of view. And it also contributes a significant amount of revenue, which we have today announced will be put into a fund that will deliver the clean energy projects that get us off fossil fuels in the long term. Andy Burnham says the government is looking at whether it can remove the daily charge from gas bills. An independent review into anti-Semitism in schools has called for more training to help teachers address the topic of Israel and Palestine. The government says change will come on anti-Semitism as it accepts recommendations in the Bell Review, released today.

1:08Sir David Bell, the independent reviewer, told Times Radio social media has a lot to answer for. I think in some places, among some groups of students, anti-Semitism has been normalised. I think social media has had quite an impact in that regard because of the perpetuation of conspiracy theories and anti-Semitic tropes and the like. So I'm pleased to say that the government recognises that this is not just about addressing the recommendations in my report, but it's also about a whole of government response, including on the digital media front. Well, the Kremlin says it is willing in principle to join peace talks with Ukraine and the US next month.

1:52The former DUP leader is to be interviewed over an alleged rape of a woman inside the Houses of Parliament. The Times understands. Geoffrey Donaldson was sentenced to 15 years in prison last week over child sex offences against two victims, including one count of rape between 1985 and 2008. And the King says the victims of the Aberfan disaster will always be in our hearts as he visited the Welsh town 60 years on. 116 children and 28 adults died after a cold tip slid down a kill into a school. You can follow the Times Radio News Briefing on Spotify and listen live to Times Radio online.