European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has given details of a €315bn (£250bn; $393bn) investment plan to kick-start Europe's economy.

At its heart is a new €21bn fund that would provide loans for infrastructure projects. Mr Juncker hopes most of the rest of the money will come from private backers.
Only €16bn of the original money would come from the European Union budget.
However, critics doubt it can attract so much private investment.
There was immediate scepticism from the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) whose General Secretary, Bernadette Segol, suggested the Commission was "relying on a financial miracle like the loaves and fishes".
She said she did not believe that €315bn could be raised from €21bn, a leverage factor of 15 which the ETUC argued was "almost certainly unrealistic".
The Commission believes it could create up to 1.3 million jobs with investment in broadband, energy networks and transport infrastructure, as well as education and research.
Analysis by BBC Europe editor Gavin Hewitt
This is the new Commission's big idea. It is the EU's New Deal.
To a large extent it will be judged by its success or failure.
The markets are currently awash with money. The big test is whether they will invest in Europe where the economy is stagnating and confidence is low.
"Europe needs a kick-start and today the Commission is providing the jump leads," Mr Juncker said as he detailed his ambitious five-year plan at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
He said Europe had to face "the challenge of a generation" head-on, without a money-printing machine, and described his plan as the greatest effort in recent EU history to trigger additional investment without changing the rules.
The plan would take the burden off national governments, already facing big debts after the financial crisis. But they could contribute to the fund if they wished, and would be asked to come up with a list of projects with "high socio-economic returns" that would start between 2015 and 2017.
Illustrating the type of projects he has in mind, Mr Juncker said he had a vision of:
The Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) would create the fund's €21bn reserve, according to Mr Juncker, which would then enable the EIB to fund loans worth €63bn. Private investors would be expected to put forward the lion's share of the money, some €252bn.
Mr Juncker's speech came a day after Pope Francis addressed the same parliament, criticising an "elderly and haggard" Europe that had become less and less of a protagonist.
Initial reaction to Mr Juncker's plan came from Chancellor Angela Merkel, who told the German parliament that her government supported the package in principle, but it had to be clear to everyone where the projects were in the future.
The Commission president, who came to office at the start of November, said he could not promise how much investment would go to each country, but he argued that investment in one country could only be good for growth in another.
Structural reforms were necessary to modernise Europe's economy and fiscal responsibility was needed to restore confidence in public finance, but now investment had to be boosted as well, he said.
The start of the former Luxembourg prime minister's term as president has been overshadowed by his country's role in a tax break row.
Hundreds of multi-national firms were reportedly attracted to Luxembourg in legal tax avoidance schemes. Mr Juncker was prime minister at the time but denies wrongdoing.
Although a vote against him is due to take place at the European Parliament on Thursday, it is unlikely to attract widespread support.


Swiss voters will decide on Sunday whether to phase out nuclear power.

Although Switzerland's government already has a plan to decommission the country's five nuclear plants "at the end of their natural lives", opponents of nuclear power claim the strategy is too vague, and may allow the plants to keep operating indefinitely.
The proposal before voters, brought by the Green party, calls for nuclear plants to be closed after a maximum 45 years in operation, and for a ban on construction of any new plants.
This would mean that three of the five plants would have to shut next year, the fourth in 2024 and the last in 2029.
The 2011 accident at Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant was, for many Swiss voters, the deciding factor in a relationship with nuclear power that has always been uneasy.
In the wake of Fukushima, the Swiss government announced the plan to gradually phase out nuclear power, once the plants were no longer viable on the advice of the businesses which run them and the Swiss nuclear watchdog.
The announcement coincided with neighbouring Germany's decision to abandon nuclear power too, but did not go as far, in that the German government set fixed dates for decommissioning.
It is the perceived vagueness over dates, and concerns over safety, which lie behind the current vote on a faster phase-out.
Switzerland is a densely populated country, none of its five plants is more than 70km (43 miles) from urban centres and the government issues iodine tablets to communities within a certain radius, to be taken in case of a release of radioactive material.
Due to public concern, no new nuclear power stations have been built in Switzerland since 1984.
The Beznau 1 plant is the world's oldest, dating back to 1969, while Muhleberg is close enough to the Swiss capital Berne for all its citizens to have iodine tablets in their bathroom cabinets. It came on stream in 1971.
For campaigners like Nils Epprecht of the Swiss Energy Foundation, Switzerland is just not the right country for nuclear power. An accident would be "catastrophic", he argues, making large parts of the country uninhabitable.
Supporters of a quick phase-out of nuclear also say that Switzerland, already famous for strict environmental policies, ought to be providing Europe with a shining example of renewable energy, rather than relying on elderly nuclear reactors. More than 60% of Swiss power already comes from a renewable source - hydropower.
And, they argue, unless the government commits to a firm date for a nuclear phase-out, there will be no economic impetus to invest in renewables.
But Swiss business leaders, very influential on Switzerland's political scene, have their doubts.
Thirty-eight per cent of Switzerland's energy currently comes from nuclear power, and Hans Ulrich Bigler, member of parliament for the centre-right Radical Party, and director of the Swiss Association of Small and Medium Businesses, believes that without a clear solution on how to fill that gap, such a rapid exit from nuclear power would be the real catastrophe.
"Energy prices would rise," he claimed, "and we would have to import energy from France or Germany."
Imported French energy, Mr Bigler claims, would almost certainly be nuclear, while German terawatts would likely come from coal. Neither, he argues, would really achieve the environmental aims of those calling for an end to nuclear.
Latest opinion polls show the vote is likely to be very close, with many voters agonising over their desire to do what they think is right for the environment, and a reluctance to damage the Swiss economy, currently ranked as the world's most successful.


Sunderland have sacked manager Gus Poyet after a run of just one victory in 12 Premier League games.

The Black Cats are one point above the relegation zone after Saturday's 4-0 home defeat by Aston Villa.
"Sadly, we have not made the progress that any of us had hoped for this season," said chairman Ellis Short.
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"We find ourselves battling, once again, at the wrong end of the table. We have therefore made the difficult decision that a change is needed."
A Sunderland statement added that an announcement about Poyet's successor would be made "in due course".
The Wearsiders face a trip to West Ham on Saturday before a derby against Newcastle on 5 April.
Poyet, 47, took training on Monday morning and then met chief executive Margaret Byrne and other board members to learn his fate.
Poyet had taken over from Paolo Di Canio in October 2013 with the club bottom of the Premier League.
But four victories and a draw from their final six league games helped keep them up - a run that included wins at Chelsea and Manchester United, plus a draw at Manchester City.
Uruguayan Poyet, who has managed Brighton, also led the Wearsiders to the 2014 Capital One Cup final, which they lost to City.
"I would like to thank Gus for his endeavours during his time at the club, in particular last season's 'great escape' and cup final appearance, which will live long in the memory of every Sunderland fan," said Short.
This term, Sunderland have just four wins from 29 league matches and were knocked out of the FA Cup by League One Bradford in February.
Following that 2-0 defeat by the Bantams, Poyet wrote an open letter to fans calling for unity to help their battle to stay in the Premier League.
Sunderland were 4-0 down to Villa before half-time on Saturday.
Some angry fans had to be restrained by security staff as they tried to get close to Poyet in the dug-out, while other supporters left the ground early.


The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were at St Paul's Cathedral in London on Thursday for the national service of commemoration marking the 200th anniversary of Waterloo.

During the formal procession into the cathedral, one of the youngest soldiers currently serving in an Irish regiment carried the Field Marshal's Baton of the Duke of Wellington, who was born in Ireland.
Ranger Joseph Nixon, 19, was representing the Royal Irish Regiment, the successors of the 27th Inniskilling Regiment of Foot, which fought at Waterloo.
"This is a real privilege for me and a great chance to represent the modern regiment whilst remembering those whose heritage we share" said the young Ballymena soldier.
It is estimated that about 9,000 Irishmen fought with the Duke of Wellington's army.
Most of them were in locally raised regiments such as the 27th Inniskillings and the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards and the 18th Kings Irish Hussars.
These were men from all over Ireland, many of them weavers and farm labourers who found themselves out of work due the increasing mechanisation of industry.
Among them was James Graham from Clones who after "a day of unrelenting slaughter" on the field of conflict, was declared "the bravest man at Waterloo" by Wellington.
On a wall in St Tiernach's Church of Ireland in Clones hang two plaques in memory of Sgt Graham, establishing a direct link between the church and the battle in Belgium.
Local historian George Knight said the Clones man was involved in a pivotal moment in the battle.
"Anyone who has read about the Waterloo realises that the battle pretty much hung on the defence of Hougoumont," he said.
"If it had fallen, the chances are that Waterloo would have been lost. The French troops broke into Hougoumont farm at one stage and Sgt Graham and his commanding officer were responsible for closing the gateway that they'd broken through."
To this day James Graham's story is not that well-known, but that could be about to change according to the Rector of St Tiernach's, Archdeacon Helene Steed.
"To have two plaques in our church remembering the man regarded as the bravest man in England and Ireland at that time is something to be proud of and be inspired by," she said.
Waterloo: The day that decided Europe's fate
Discover how closely Britain came to defeat at Waterloo with iWonder
"To have people like that who are brave and are prepared to do things."
George Knight said interest is peaking now because of the bi-centenary.
"There's a bit of interest now, but really he's been a forgotten hero. I can just imagine if Clones, instead of being an Irish town, was a little English village, there would be a large bronze statue of Sgt Graham in the village square.
The Innisksillings Museum has the largest single collection of Waterloo medals along with other artefacts from the battle.
Curator Neil Armstrong said the bonds with the battle in Belgium were strong.
"Both Inniskilling regiments were at Waterloo and lost hundreds of men, killed wounded and missing," he said.
"Napoleon and Wellington are both quoted as commenting on fighting spirit of the Irish regiments.
"They played a major role in this epic turning point in world history. These were Irish men literally from every county in Ireland."
The slaughter in the mud at Waterloo cost thousands of lives. It is estimated that up to 2,000 Irish soldiers were among the dead and wounded.
Military commanders acknowledged that it was a close run thing.
In the end Wellington triumphed over Napoleon and the course of history was set.
Today is about remembering all those who fought and died in one of the most famous military engagements in history.


Five people were hurt when a train hit the buffers as it came into London's King's Cross.

The accident on platform 11 involved the 10:55 BST Govia Thameslink service from Cambridge.
Passenger Matthew Blakemore was travelling in the front carriage and said there was a "huge bang" and "everyone was thrown around".
Ambulance crews treated five people for minor injuries and two people were taken to hospital as a precaution.
Network Rail said in a statement the train was involved in a "low-speed collision with the buffer stops" at about 12:18.
Mr Blakemore, 27, was travelling from Hatfield to London for a business meeting and said: "Everyone was standing up preparing to get off.
"It all seemed fine, the train was slowing down as it came into the station but it didn't stop.
"At the time we heard a big bang and all of us were panicking. We didn't know what it was, we thought it might be terrorism, we just didn't know.
"A few people were standing in the aisle and one girl was thrown all the way down the carriage, she hurt her shoulder quite badly.
"The doors opened after about a minute but the roof by the doors of the train had come down in the impact. I was fine, just a bit shocked."
A spokesman for Govia Thameslink said: "We worked with paramedics to help those who were injured and apologise to those affected by the incident. We will cooperate fully with any investigation."
Two other Great Northern rail services have been cancelled as a result of the crash and two services will run with fewer carriages than usual, he said.
Platform 11 has been closed while investigations are carried out. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has been informed.


Three people arrested after a man was found unconscious following a suspected assault in Brighton have been released without charge.

The 28-year-old man from Brighton was taken to hospital in a critical condition after being found in North Street at 07:10 GMT on Saturday.
A 28-year-old man of no fixed address and a 43-year-old woman from Brighton were arrested on suspicion of robbery.
A 30-year-old Brighton man was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.
Sussex Police said the victim was still in hospital.
Officers are still keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and may have witnessed the assault.


A psychiatric patient was lawfully killed by a man he attacked in Cardiff, an inquest jury has concluded.

Khoung Lam, who had schizophrenia, died after attacking a stranger in woodland near Coryton in June 2015.
He attacked David Owen with a belt and, during the resulting struggle, the belt was tightened around his own neck. He later died.
Mr Lam had absconded from a psychiatric nurse on a shopping trip from Whitchurch Hospital.
Coroner Chris Woolley said the conclusion meant Mr Owen had deliberately applied force "in the honest and genuine belief that he was defending himself against a genuine imminent threat", and that the actions he took contributed to Mr Lam's death.
His cause of death was given as "a sudden collapse in a 42-year-old man with schizophrenia and recent behavioural abnormality, taking quetiapine, following a prolonged struggle and pressure to the neck".
The inquest, which lasted three weeks, heard he had a history of mental illness over many years.
In June 2015, he was detained under the Mental Heath Act at Whitchurch Hospital.
He had attacked his brother before being admitted and, while he was in hospital, was involved in an altercation with another patient.
Two days before he died he was placed in the psychiatric intensive care unit, but on 25 June he was given permission to go for a walk to shops with a nurse.
During this walk, he ran away. The inquest heard it was not the correct procedure for the nurse to chase after a patient.
He was next seen in a supermarket at Coryton, near the hospital.  Police were called but, when they arrived, he "bolted" into nearby woods.
It was there he came across Mr Owen, who was walking to meet friends at a nearby pub.
Mr Owen, who was 58 at the time, told the inquest how Mr Lam was repeatedly saying: "Do you want to die today? What day do you want to die?"
He said Mr Lam pulled his belt off and chased him down a footpath.
"My fear was that there was no-one else around. If he overpowered me, I was in trouble," he said.
Mr Owen said he then fell over and, as he got to his feet, Mr Lam swung the belt and the buckle hit him on the head before he put it around his neck.
He said he fought for his life, prying the belt off by pulling it over his chin, nose and forehead in three stages while they were wrestling on the floor.
Mr Owen said he was "exhausted" when he managed to take the belt, put it around Mr Lam's neck and apply pressure with "whatever strength I had left".
He then called police and, when they found Mr lam, he had died.
Mr Owen was initially arrested but was later released without charge.
The coroner said he was satisfied lessons surrounding Khoung Lam's death had been learnt by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.


Huddersfield Town striker Rekeil Pyke has joined National League side Wrexham on a month's loan.

Pyke, 19, is a member of Huddersfield's Under-21 team and is yet to make a first team appearance for the Championship club.
"He's got pace, he's direct and he's a powerful runner," Wrexham manager Dean Keates said.
"He's on the verge of the first team at Huddersfield so it's a case of him coming here to get experience."


A life-size cast iron sculpture by Sir Antony Gormley has been felled for the second time in just over two months following stormy weather in Dorset.

The artwork at Clavell Tower, Kimmeridge Bay, appears to have been sheared off at the ankles.
Sir Antony said he was "thrilled" when the sculpture toppled into the sea in September, calling it proof of its "dynamic relationship with... nature".
The life-size figure was part of a commission entitled "Land".
It was created to mark 50 years of UK building conservation charity Landmark Trust.
John Bickerton, owner of Lulworth House B&B, found the statue during a walk with his family on Saturday.
He said: "We were sprinkling my mother's ashes on the far side of the bay before going round to take a family picture with the sculpture.
"We quickly realised it wasn't standing and when we got there could see it had sheared off at its thinnest point - the ankles. This time it looks like it might be fatal."
The BBC has asked the Landmark Trust to comment.


Jean-Louis Cremieux-Brilhac, who played a key role in General de Gaulle's entourage in wartime London, has died in Paris at the age of 98.

Cremieux-Brilhac spent three years at the headquarters of de Gaulle's Free French in Hill Street, Mayfair, where he was secretary of the propaganda committee.
It was in this function that he personally drew up the instructions to be read out over the BBC, telling the French public how to react on D-Day.
Cremieux-Brilhac kept the original typed document in his possession, and showed it to the BBC for a film on the 70th anniversary of D-Day last year. He said that on his death it should be bequeathed to the French National Archives.
"For a young officer like me it was something exceptional to be working at the heart of the decision-makers," he said.
Cremieux-Brilhac had already survived several adventures before joining up with de Gaulle in 1941.
A young French officer, he fought against the invading Germans in May 1940 and was taken prisoner.
He escaped from his prison-camp in Germany and made his way through Poland to Soviet territory. But as the Nazi-Soviet pact was still holding, he was promptly imprisoned again. He said conditions under the Russians were worse than under the Germans.
Cremieux-Brilhac was released again when Hitler invaded Russia in June 1941. He travelled on a Canadian ship from Archangel to Glasgow along with 200 or so other French soldiers.
Archive Pathe footage shows the group arriving by train at Euston station. Viewing the images 70 years on, Cremieux-Brilhac spotted many of his friends - but sadly not himself.
With the Free French, Cremieux-Brilhac was responsible for liaising with the BBC, which ran a daily schedule of French language propaganda broadcasts into France.  Several times he took the microphone himself.
"It was the most thrilling feeling, sitting there in the studio in London, and knowing that all those hundreds of miles away your voice was being listened to in homes across France," he said.
He was born Jean-Louis Cremieux in the Paris suburb of Colombes in 1917. The Cremieux were a family from one of France's oldest Jewish communities in the former Papal states at Avignon. He added the Brilhac as a nom-de-guerre in London.
After the war Cremieux-Brilhac had a political career working for the centre-left leader Pierre Mendes-France, who was prime minister for a short time in the mid 1950s.
A a historian, Cremieux-Brilhac wrote several highly-praised books on the France's contribution to the war.
In 2014 he was given the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour - the award's highest rank. He was also made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.


McDonald's has reported better-than-expected sales during the third quarter, lifted by the UK and an improved all-day breakfast menu.

The fast food chain said like-for-like revenue rose by 3.5% in the three months to September.
Shares in the company rose after it beat analysts' forecasts of a 1.5% increase in revenue.
McDonald's is in the process of a major turnaround plan after a sustained period of falling sales.
Areas such as the UK, Australia, Canada and Germany performed strongly over the quarter and increased like-for-like sales by 3.3%.
McDonald's also raised sales in the US, which it said was suffering from "industry softness". China weighed on its "high-growth" markets, which include countries such as Russia, because of strong comparative sales and "protests related to events surrounding the South China Sea".
However, it made gains and like-for-like sales in its high-growth markets rose 1.5%.
Steve Easterbrook, president and chief executive of McDonald's, said: "Looking ahead, we are focused on growing global comparable sales and serving more customers while being mindful of the near-term challenges in several markets."
The company has introduced a number of initiatives to attract customers, including adding new items its all day breakfasts, including biscuits, McMuffins and McGriddles.
Neil Saunders, chief executive of Conlumino, the retail research and consultancy group, said one of the challenges McDonald's faced was widening its appeal.
He said: "While the menu changes have drawn in more customers, they have not completely reinvigorated the brand with younger consumer segments, many of whom still shun the chain in favour of what they see as more premium and satisfying offerings from players like Shake Shack."


A 29-year-old woman has been found guilty of causing a pensioner's death by driving dangerously on an Aberdeenshire road.

Anna-Marie Strachan, from Fraserburgh, lost control of her car on the A90 near Rathen on 31 July 2014.
The driver of the other vehicle involved, 73-year-old James Thomson, was taken to hospital but died.
Strachan, 29, was also found guilty of injuring Mr Thomson's wife Frances and two young children in the car.
The High Court in Aberdeen heard that Strachan, who was driving a Peugeot 308, was seen drifting onto the other carriageway into the path of an oncoming car and did not take any action to avoid the collision.
Mr Thomson was badly injured in the head-on crash along with his 71-year-old wife, who was a passenger in the car.
They were taken to hospital where they were treated for their injuries but Mr Thomson died the following day.
Another motorist travelling behind Strachan on the Fraserburgh to Peterhead road described the crash as an "explosion of plastic".
Witness Steven Sutherland, 55, said he pulled over and ran up to the crash scene to help the casualties.
Another passing driver was trying to get two young children, aged two and seven, out of the car to safety because there appeared to be smoke inside the vehicle and he feared the car might be on fire.
Giving evidence in court, Mr Sutherland said he spoke to Strachan who was clearly injured and trapped in the car.
He said she was sitting in the vehicle with a mobile phone in her hand and told him she was trying to call her brother.
Strachan went on trial accused of causing the collision after consuming prescription drugs and holding a phone, but both allegations were later deleted from the charge.
The court was told that there was no record of Strachan having made or received a phone call or text message when the crash happened.
She told a paramedic who arrived at the scene that she was taking pain relief for chronic back pain.
Another witness, Jacqueline Kelly, told the jury at the High Court in Aberdeen that she also saw the collision while travelling behind the Peugeot on the rural road.
The secondary school teacher said: "As I was going along, there was a change in the car in front of me.
"It sort of very slowly started gliding on to the other side of the road."
Mrs Kelly, 49, told the court: "I just remember thinking 'where's that car going?' Then there was the impact."
Advocate depute Stewart Ronnie asked: "Did you see any brake lights being applied?"
She replied: "Not that I can remember."
Strachan fractured her hip and ankle in the crash and now walks with the aid of a walking stick.
She denied causing the crash but was found guilty of the offence by a majority verdict.
Sentence was deferred for background reports until 12 April at the High Court in Glasgow.


There has been widespread international condemnation of President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the US from the 2015 Paris climate agreement.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel called the move "extremely regrettable" and said nothing would stop those who supported the accord.
But Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would "not judge" Mr Trump.
Mr Trump said he was prepared to discuss a new deal but key signatories to the accord quickly ruled that out.
He said the deal "punished" the US and would cost millions of American jobs. "I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris," he quipped.
The Paris agreement commits the US and 194 other countries to keeping rising global temperatures "well below" 2C above pre-industrial levels and "endeavour to limit" them even more, to 1.5C.
The UN World Meteorological Organisation said on Friday that, in the worst scenario, the US pullout could add 0.3C to global temperatures by the end of the century.
Mr Trump characterised the Paris agreement as a deal that aimed to hobble, disadvantage and impoverish the US.
He said it would cost the US $3tn (Â£2.3tn) in lost GDP and 6.5 million jobs - while rival economies like China and India were treated more favourably.
Mr Trump said he was fulfilling his "solemn duty to protect America and its citizens".
He added: "We don't want other leaders and other countries laughing at us anymore - and they won't be."
"We need the Paris agreement to protect all of creation," said Chancellor Merkel. "Nothing can and nothing will stop us."
Mrs Merkel said the path set out by Paris was "irreversible", and she added: "We will travel it together."
"To everyone who cares about the future of our planet, I say let's continue on this path together to succeed in protecting Mother Earth," Mrs Merkel said.
In other criticism of Mr Trump's decision on Friday:
Speaking in the Russian city of St Petersburg, President Putin said that while he would not judge Mr Trump, he thought the US should not abandon the Paris accord.
"This agreement hasn't even taken effect yet - it will take effect by 2021," he said, speaking in Russian. "So we still have time to reach a deal." Then, in English, he added: "Don't worry, be happy."
It is unclear which deadline Mr Putin was referring to as the Paris Agreement entered into force on 4 November 2016.
Mr Trump did not give a timescale on withdrawal. However, under the agreement, a nation seeking to leave the pact can only give notice three years after the agreement from the date it entered into force.
The process of leaving then takes another year, meaning it would not be complete until just weeks after the US presidential election in 2020.
US payments to the UN Green Climate Fund, which helps developing countries cope with the effects of climate change, will stop. The US has reportedly so far paid $1bn (Â£780m) of a $3bn pledge.
Mr Trump indicated he was open to another climate deal "on terms that are fair to the United States" but his words suggest it is not a priority for him.
"We will see if we can make a deal that's fair," he said. "And if we can, that's great. And if we can't, that's fine."
The leaders of France, Germany and Italy quickly issued a joint statement rejecting any renegotiation: "We deem the momentum generated in Paris in December 2015 irreversible and we firmly believe that the Paris agreement cannot be renegotiated, since it is a vital instrument for our planet, societies and economies."
Barack Obama, who was president when the Paris deal was agreed, accused the Trump administration of "rejecting the future".
The Democratic governors of New York, California and Washington states all quickly vowed to respect the terms of the Paris deal.
Disney's chief executive Robert Iger and the entrepreneur Elon Musk both resigned from White House advisory councils in opposition to the decision.
"Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world," said Mr Musk, the head of tech giant Tesla.
However, Republican congressional leaders and the US coal industry backed the move, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell supporting Mr Trump "for dealing yet another significant blow to the Obama administration's assault on domestic energy production and jobs".
Peabody Energy, America's biggest coal mining firm, said the agreement would have badly affected the US economy.
Climate change, or global warming, refers to the damaging effect of gases, or emissions, released from industry, transportation, agriculture and other areas into the atmosphere.
The Paris accord is meant to limit the global rise in temperature attributed to emissions. Only Syria and Nicaragua did not sign up.
Countries agreed to:
Nasa's Goddard Institute for Space Studies says the world's average temperature has risen by about 0.8C since 1880, two-thirds of that since 1975.
US think tank Climate Interactive predicts that if all nations fully achieve their Paris pledges, the average global surface temperature rise by 2100 will be 3.3C, or 3.6C without the US.
What is climate change?
What is in the Paris climate deal?


Thirty-nine sites of violent clashes on Scottish soil have been officially recognised in Scotland's Inventory of Historic Battlefields.

The database has been put together by Historic Scotland to give greater protection to the sites and to act as a guide to planning authorities.
It includes famous battles such as Bannockburn, Culloden and Killiecrankie.
Less well known Alford and Skirmish Hill also feature.
Work started on the inventory about four years ago with the public consulted on battlefields suggested for inclusion.
The 39 scenes of conflicts - selected from a list of 50 - were added to the database in three phases of consultation and research.
The most recent phase placed 11 sites in the inventory and included:
Historic Scotland said more battlefields could be added at later dates.
Culture and External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop said it was a real achievement that so many battles had been researched.
She said: "The interest in protecting battlefield sites from across the country has been immense and continues.
"The consultation in 2008 generated more responses from the public than any other Historic Scotland policy at that time."
Ms Hyslop added: "Introducing this first Inventory of Historic Battlefields acknowledged this high level of public interest and support for giving lasting recognition to places where lives have been lost, even where no other commemoration has existed."
The full list of battlefields added in three phases held so far are: Alford (1645), Ancrum Moor (1545), Auldearn (1645), Bannockburn (1314), Bothwell Bridge (1679), Culloden (1746), Dunbar II (1650), Dupplin Moor (1332), Falkirk II (1746), Glenshiel (1719), Harlaw (1411), Killiecrankie (1689), Kilsyth (1645), Philiphaugh (1645), Pinkie (1547), Prestonpans (1745) and Sheriffmuir (1715).
Barra (1308), Carbisdale (1650), Cromdale (1690), Drumclog (1679), Fyvie (1645), Inverkeithing II (1651), Inverlochy II (1645), Linlithgow Bridge (1526), Mulroy (1688), Rullion Green (1666) and Stirling Bridge (1297).
Blar-na-Leine (1544), Dunbar I (1296), Dunkeld (1689), Glenlivet (1594), Inverlochy I (1431), Langside (1568), Loudoun Hill (1307), Roslin (1303), Sauchieburn (1488), Skirmish Hill (1526) and Tippermuir (1644).
Dr Iain Banks and Dr Tony Pollard at Glasgow University's Centre for Battlefield Archaeology carried out the research.
Dr Banks said: "These sites preserve the last traces of historical events that shaped the nation of Scotland through history, and there is no substitute for visiting the battlefields for understanding what happened in each battle."
He added: "What we have found when researching the battlefields is that there is never any difficulty in persuading people of the importance of a particular site.
"The most difficult job has been explaining why individual battlefields have not made it onto the inventory.
"We have been really astonished at the high levels of enthusiasm for the preservation of battlefields at the local level - people are fascinated by them and want to see them preserved."


It's a big day for the government, a big day for the chancellor and - while not every day in Westminster feels like it - it's a big day for the country.

George Osborne is not just standing up to make a few tweaks to public spending here and there, not just to make a political statement, but to set out the size and shape of the state for the next five years, in a time when money is tight and he has little room for manoeuvre.
The government wants to show the country it has a clear mission, and a determination to balance the books in an effective and coherent way.
That means making choices and deciding priorities.
Ministers in the majority Conservative government believe their ability to set priorities ought to be both a strength and an opportunity.
This won't be a Spending Review, they say, that displays an attitude of cutting a little bit here and there, moving money around the balance sheet to try to smooth out the pain.
Instead they see it as a programme of strategic cuts that, while difficult, add up to something: a country where work is rewarded, where anyone who wants to get on is helped to do so, and where the state has a careful approach to spending taxpayers' money, using it judiciously where it helps and not being afraid to scrape it back where it does not.
But choosing priorities - not just protecting but substantially increasing spending on areas like health, significant new spending on house building including billions going directly to house builders to encourage them to get spades into the ground, and retaining what many see as generous welfare payments to the older generations - inevitably means others will lose out.
No minister would argue that doesn't cause political pain.
This spending review will mean, for example, some police officers disappearing from forces around the country, some families taking hits to their incomes through changes to welfare, or some grants to business being cut back.
Each cut will be analysed in public, just as it has in recent weeks been argued over in private.
And with each saving comes a political risk.
As the chancellor knows from bitter experience, the details in statements like these can blow up unpredictably into political problems.
Rebels to the government's planned cuts to tax credits are hopeful of pretty substantial changes. Speculation in Westminster suggests pulling back cuts of more than £1,000 a year to some families' incomes to £300 or £400.
The actual details are being kept tightly under wraps.
But be in no doubt, the decisions the chancellor has made in recent weeks will be felt around the country.
He faces an economic test of trying to stick to his own rules on spending - not just getting the books back into balance but into surplus by the end of the Parliament.
It is a political test too.
Ministers have consistently expressed their desire to make the Conservatives the party of the centre ground, standing up for the so-called "strivers", making their party the natural home for the mythical swing voters of Middle England.
But the pressure is on to make a programme of cuts meet that goal.
The Spending Review is a hefty challenge for the new Opposition too.
Labour has an opportunity to show they are capable not just of agreeing positions among themselves in order to make an articulate case, but also that they are up to the job of providing proper scrutiny of the government's biggest decisions.
After a very shaky few weeks for Jeremy Corbyn's Labour, it is not certain they'll be able to do that.
Labour, the SNP and the Lib Dems face a government fresh from an election victory that believes - especially on the economy - that it has a mandate to act.


Ukraine's government intends to privatise some 340 state-owned companies in the next few months in a sweeping programme that officials hope will reduce inefficiency, halt billions of dollars in losses and strike a decisive blow against corruption.

The programme's authors have set an ultimate goal of selling off the more than 2,000 businesses belonging to the government, leaving only 15-20 "strategic" enterprises, like railroads and major utilities.
The present privatisation drive will see an array of companies placed on the auction block - including power plants and various agricultural concerns, that will affect more than one million people who work at them and untold numbers in the communities where they are based.
And not all who will feel the effects will be humans. Also listed on the government's balance sheet are more than 1,000 horses, which are being kept on 11 state-owned horse breeding farms across the country.
One of these is the Dibrivsky horse breeding farm, located a two-hour drive to the east of Kiev in the Poltava region. It was founded in 1888 but now, because of its possible sale, faces an uncertain future.
The farm is home to around 270 horses, mostly of two breeds: Orlovsky Trotters and Russian Trotters, both racing horses.
On a recent warm, crackling-dry August day, the beauty of these animals and the idyllic setting of the farm were on full display. About 90 of them, including a number of wary colts, were gathered in a corral, drinking water.
In a nearby field, jockeys took a couple of horses out for a run, while an equestrian class practised trotting and taking jumps. All around were the green, rippling fields of the Ukrainian countryside.
But for all Dibrivsky's romantic charm, many ask - why should the Ukrainian government be in the horse-breeding business?
And if it does put the farm up for auction, then another question arises:
Who would buy it or any of the other farms, or the other companies on the government's list for that matter - given the country is currently suffering a major economic depression and is struggling against a Russian-backed insurgency in the east?
Government officials accept that the Dibrivsky sale might face challenges.
"I suppose it would not be easy," says Oleksii Zubrytsky, an adviser to Ukraine's agriculture minister. "First of all we have a lot of private farms, which are quite successful."
"But the main problem is the demand," he adds. "In order to sell horses, we need to create a demand. And due to the crisis in the country, this demand is not so good."
Equine activities in fact only constitute a small part of the horse breeding farm's activities. Dibrivsky raises pigs and cows, and also produces honey and fermented mare's milk, which is a local delicacy.
Most of its money comes not from its horses, but from its 5,500 hectares of surrounding farmland, where it grows wheat, soya and oats. The situation is mirrored among the other horse farms in the government's possession.
According to Mr Zubrytsky, 80% of the farms' incomes come from agriculture, on some 40,000 hectares. Raising other animals accounts for 15% of earnings - and just 5% comes from the horses themselves.
And this arrangement, he says, fuels corruption.
"We have a lot of shadow businessmen, who use the access of the state-owned enterprises to the land, probably free of charge," says Mr Zubrytsky.
"They use this access and take all the profits, leaving the cost to the state enterprises. This is the biggest problem."
The corruption and mismanagement of government-owned businesses have resulted in gargantuan losses to the state, officials say. At the horse breeding farms, the figure is around $10m (??6.3m).
For state-run companies as a whole, the deficit is some $5bn - a figure that the struggling country can hardly afford to throw away.
"This is what the country spends for national security for the whole year," says Adomas Audickas, who runs a team in the economics ministry spearheading the privatisation process.
"These companies could earn $5bn in profits if they were run efficiently, and the same as in the private sector."
"So if you are to privatise them, you're going to have fewer losses, and you'll have income to the state," he adds.
Many agree - including the director of the horse farm system, Denis Ptushko. Privatisation is the "only life preserver" for the horses, he says.
But he also worries about what the future holds.
"This horse farm is located in the village of Dibrivka. During the harvest season, 120 to 130 people work here.
"No one else can offer as much work as this horse farm. This is also an important point that needs to be considered."
Looking out at the dozens of horses surrounding him, Mr Ptushko adds: "But the most important thing is for privatisation to take place in such a way so that these horses fall into the hands of someone who can protect them."


Garath McCleary scored before being sent off as Reading beat Barnsley despite playing more than half the game with 10 men.

McCleary saw his penalty saved by Adam Davies, after John Swift was brought down, before firing in the rebound.
Swift then curled in a second before McCleary was sent off for shoving Barnsley captain Conor Hourihane to the ground.
Adam Armstrong fired in a low shot for Barnsley late on but Reading held firm.
It was a disappointing result for the Tykes, who had thrashed Wolves 4-0 at Molineux on Tuesday.
Ryan Kent went close to putting them ahead when he struck the crossbar but it was the visitors who took the lead after Swift was brought down in the box by keeper Davies.
Davies did well to save the penalty but was unable to deny McCleary's follow-up attempt.
Following Swift's sublime finish to put Reading 2-0 up, McCleary was sent off for his reaction to a seemingly innocuous foul by Hourihane on Danny Williams.
But, despite having an extra man, Barnsley struggled to create clear chances, with only Armstrong being able to find the net.
Barnsley manager Paul Heckingbottom:
"We suffered through not getting the first goal today. Credit has to go to Reading, who played well. It was a good open game with chances at both ends, but going down 2-0 in this league is always going to make things difficult.
"We were given a lifeline in the sending-off and we will always fight right to the end and I'm glad the fans stuck with us right to the end. There's a brilliant bond between the players and the fans at the moment and the lads were given a great ovation at the end.
"We're enjoying every minute of life in this league. Big managers, big players on the pitch, big crowds, it's exactly what we want.
"We've got good players - good players who work their socks off - and we want to learn from today and get better and better with each game."
Reading boss Jaap Stam:
"In the first half we played very well. We had good possession, generated a number of chances and scored two good goals.
"We dominated with 11 men on the pitch, but obviously after Garath got sent off it was a totally different game. We decided to play a 4-4-1 system that allowed us to defend against Barnsley, who are a side with real quality.
"Sometimes maybe we got a bit lucky, but we worked very hard and didn't give many clear-cut chances away.
"Of course, Garath knows what he's done and does feel guilty because he was playing a fantastic game until then, but I think you have to question whether something like that can't just see a yellow card given.
"We are building a certain team with a certain style of play and defending is definitely an aspect of that. We made it very difficult for the attacking team today."
REACTION: Barnsley boss Paul Heckingbottom speaks to BBC Radio Sheffield
Match ends, Barnsley 1, Reading 2.
Second Half ends, Barnsley 1, Reading 2.
Corner,  Barnsley. Conceded by Ali Al Habsi.
Attempt saved. Josh Scowen (Barnsley) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Adam Armstrong.
Attempt missed. Tom Bradshaw (Barnsley) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Conor Hourihane with a cross following a corner.
Corner,  Barnsley. Conceded by Danny Williams.
Attempt missed. Adam Hammill (Barnsley) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right.
Foul by Josh Scowen (Barnsley).
Stephen Quinn (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Andy Yiadom (Barnsley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jordan Obita (Reading).
Attempt missed. Adam Armstrong (Barnsley) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Cole Kpekawa with a cross.
Substitution, Reading. Joseph Mendes replaces Yann Kermorgant.
Attempt missed. Adam Hammill (Barnsley) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Andy Yiadom.
Goal!  Barnsley 1, Reading 2. Adam Armstrong (Barnsley) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Tom Bradshaw with a headed pass.
Foul by Cole Kpekawa (Barnsley).
Stephen Quinn (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Tom Bradshaw (Barnsley) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Saidy Janko with a cross.
Stephen Quinn (Reading) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Angus MacDonald (Barnsley).
Substitution, Reading. Stephen Quinn replaces Roy Beerens.
Attempt blocked. Angus MacDonald (Barnsley) header from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Adam Hammill with a cross.
Corner,  Barnsley. Conceded by Ali Al Habsi.
Attempt saved. Adam Armstrong (Barnsley) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Saidy Janko.
Attempt blocked. Marc Roberts (Barnsley) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Adam Hammill with a cross.
Corner,  Barnsley. Conceded by Chris Gunter.
Substitution, Barnsley. Saidy Janko replaces Ryan Kent.
Substitution, Barnsley. Tom Bradshaw replaces Sam Winnall.
Attempt saved. Yann Kermorgant (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Tyler Blackett.
Attempt missed. Adam Hammill (Barnsley) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Conor Hourihane following a corner.
Corner,  Barnsley. Conceded by Ali Al Habsi.
Foul by Roy Beerens (Reading).
Adam Hammill (Barnsley) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Adam Armstrong (Barnsley) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
George Evans (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Adam Armstrong (Barnsley).
Paul McShane (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Angus MacDonald (Barnsley).
Corner,  Barnsley. Conceded by Paul McShane.
Foul by Yann Kermorgant (Reading).


Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood was a guest on Jason Mohammad's Radio Wales show on Thursday.

She told listeners she had had "a staggering response" since last week's seven-way leaders' debate with tourists from England telling her they wished they could vote for a similar party.
Jason asked about newspaper coverage of her appearance in the debate, with Quentin Letts of the Daily Mail suggesting she had strayed from the cast of Gavin and Stacey. Ms Wood said she welcomed the fact Fleet Street papers were now writing about Plaid Cymru
She also defended her party's candidate in Ceredigion, Mike Parker, who has made headlines in the last 24 hours over comments he wrote in Planet magazine in 2001. The story was broken by the Cambrian News and followed up by, among others, Sky News, the Western Mail and the BBC.
Many Plaid members - at least, if you can judge from Twitter - think that comments made in 2001, before he contemplated a political career, are not news, despite yesterday's row. Editor Beverly Thomas said: "The Cambrian News stands by the story's newsworthiness and relevance."
Mr Parker wrote: "It is a sad truth that many English migrants into rural Wales are out-and-out racists.
"Their principal reason for leaving English cities was to get away from the multi-cultural society, from black and Asian people in particular, and they see rural Wales, with its largely white population as a safe haven."
He added: "To some extent, rural Wales has become the British equivalent of the American mountains, inhabited by a sprinkling of paranoid conspiracy theorists, gun-toting Final Solution crackpots and anti-government obsessives."
Today, Ms Wood said: "He's an excellent candidate. He's somebody who unites people, he abhors racism.
"He didn't use the word 'Nazi', he used two words he accepts are problematic which he accepts he wouldn't use now [Final Solution]. The article needs to be put in context it was written in 2001.
"Mike is an Englishman. He's from Kidderminster, he's moved into Wales and he was raising concerns that he had discovered after conversations with his fellow countrymen.
"The article was speaking out against racist attitudes that he had come across. It looks like a deliberate attempt to smear our candidate in Ceredigion. His campaign's going very well and he's proving to be a real threat to the Liberal Democrats there."
She added: Racism is a growing problem in Wales and it is right to speak out against racism....what Mike was saying in this article back in 2001 was a statement against racism. He should be commended for speaking out against racism in such a strong way."
"It's a deliberate attempt I do believe to smear Mike Parker....he will not apologise for being a strong anti racist. And I'm proud of him for that."
Suggestions about who was behind the sudden re-discovery of the article - which made news at the time - have ranged from MI5 to the more prosaic Google. Beverly Thomas said: "The story was born from a journalist doing a journalist's job - gathering information on all 7 of Ceredigion's candidates".
Ms Wood  was also asked about Plaid's hopes for the election. "We're not making predictions, that's a fool's game but of course we're going all out as hard as we can."
(Plaid campaign co-ordinator Lord Wigley has suggested Plaid hope to win six seats)
The candidates so far declared to be standing in Ceredigion are: Henrietta Hensher (Conservative), Jack Huggins (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition), Gethin James (UKIP), Mike Parker (Plaid Cymru), Huw Thomas (Labour), Daniel Thompson (Green Party), and Mark Williams (Liberal Democrats).


The BBC Get Inspired Unsung Hero Award celebrates outstanding contributions from those who volunteer their time and effort to help in the development and running of grassroots sports.

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This is the 14th year of the award, which honours the dedicated coaches and organisers whose efforts encourage the sporting talents of others, and whose work enables local clubs and groups to thrive.
After the nomination period, panels met in each of the BBC's 15 Nations and English Regions - and winners were chosen from each area. These men and women joined sporting icons at the 2016 BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony in Birmingham, where Marcellus Baz was chosen as the overall 'Unsung Hero' winner.
Meet each of the regional winners below.
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Vanessa Weedon-Jones has helped more than 30 women get into sailing by creating Women on the Water - a sailing course for women based in Cambridgeshire.
Vanessa has worked tirelessly as a volunteer for sailing in the Cambridgeshire area, acting as a catalyst for positive change. Hunts Sailing Club, and Grafham Water have benefited enormously from her efforts.
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Marcellus Baz had a tough start in life. At 23, his boxing career was ended when he was stabbed by a rival gang member in Nottingham. But he went on to found a boxing club and has spent 20 years steering youngsters away from dangers of gang life and crime.
Marcellus gives up 30 hours a week for free at the Nottingham School of Boxing, taking referrals from probation, youth offending and social services.
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Young volunteer boxing coach Michael Harris took over the running of the Double Jab boxing club in Lewisham two years ago.
In an area troubled by gang violence and knife crime, he has helped 19 youngsters with minor criminal records to get into steady employment.
And by offering training and facilities to more than 250 people who use the gym every week, he continues to provide a safe space for young people to channel their energy away from the street.
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Steve Binks has been coaching and inspiring children and adult cyclists at Cleveland Wheelers for more than 40 years.
In his time at the club he has set up the league 2000, a competition for under-18s which has been running for 20 years. He has also been responsible for two Tour de Yorkshire events.
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For 11 years, Mandi Mellor has put in up to 30 hours a week in volunteering at Warrington Gymnastics Club, managing finances, fundraising, sourcing equipment and programming classes.
During that time she has moved the club to a new home and seen membership grow from 150 to more than 1,100.
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Andy Alcorn runs the Harry Gregg Foundation small-sided games centre in Coleraine.
In eight years, the centre has grown from eight teams to 104 and former Manchester United star Gregg says: "What they do is incredible. They are doing it because they love the game. They don't get any medals and I am very proud of it."
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At Free Wheel North in Glasgow, cycling volunteer Rachael Halifax helps people with disabilities cycle using specially adapted bikes. She also teaches children and adults of all ages how to ride.
Her volunteering has resulted in an increasing number of families taking part in cycling activities together.
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For more than four decades, football coach Mike Whittle has spent four nights a week at Winsor United, and even puts in additional hours at weekends.
The club has youth teams ranging from under-sixes to under-18s, and Mike, 70, is involved in all of them.
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Viv Woodcock-Downey, has doubled the membership of Brighton's LGBT sport society since she joined 15 years ago.
Blagss is a 400-strong thriving sports group, which helps people get back into sport by boosting their confidence and expanding their social network.
For the past four years, John Friend has been head coach at Devonport Amateur Boxing club in Plymouth.
John has trained youngsters - many with difficult backgrounds at home or school or who have suffered from bullying - with some achieving national recognition, while the club has also contributed to a reduction in anti-social behaviour in the area.
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Vicki Randall from Cwmbran has been instrumental in the growth of grassroots netball in Torfaen and in 2009 set up Cwmbran Youth, which now has 230 members in 14 teams.
Football is the 29-year-old PE teacher's other sporting passion and she formed and coaches the Cwmbran Celtic Ladies side.
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Archery coach Dave Jones helped Paralympian Jo Frith win gold in Rio while volunteering at Chippenham Archers.
"He helped me get my Rio medal and I am so, so proud to be associated with him," said Jo.
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David Finney, who has been coaching at the Bridge Swimming Club in Redditch for 40 years, is celebrating his upcoming retirement with the West Midlands Unsung Hero award.
The energetic 83-year-old has also coached Redditch Swimming Club since 1972, oversaw a badminton club on Sundays and has helped out at Stonehouse Gang Youth Club in Birmingham since his teens in the 1940s.
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Shiv Krishan, a community cricket coach from Bradford, has been involved as a volunteer in the sport for about 30 years.
Currently he works about 10 hours a week with Great Horton Church Junior Cricket Club, the club that nominated him for the BBC award.
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In her day job, table-tennis coach Sylvia Worth coaches some of the brightest young prospects in the sport.
But she also runs the Smashers club for over-50s twice a week at Sancton Village Hall, which has grown to more than two dozen members.


The vote to leave the EU risks making staffing shortages in the NHS worse, health leaders are warning.

The NHS Confederation said doctors and nurses from Europe may be put off accepting jobs after the referendum.
If that happened the NHS could face some major problems, it said.
The organisation, which represents health managers, said there were currently 130,000 EU health and care workers in the UK, including 10% of doctors and 5% of nurses.
Elisabetta Zanon, the director of the NHS Confederation's European office, said: "There is a real risk the uncertainty and the falling value of the pound will make people think again.
"If that happens, we could see shortages in some key areas get worse."
A report earlier this year from the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee warned the front line in England may be as many as 50,000 staff short - out of a workforce of slightly more than 800,000 clinical staff.
Ms Zanon also said Brexit could have an impact on medical research and the free healthcare Britons received when abroad.
But she said the workforce issue was the most pressing, as the impact could be felt straightaway.
And there were signs this had already started happening, with reports that an EU recruitment drive in West Yorkshire had already run into difficulties.
To counter the problems, the NHS Confederation has even launched a Twitter campaign called #LoveOurEUStaff.
Speaking at a conference in London, the former Health Secretary and Tory peer Lord Lansley agreed there were many areas of concern.
"The EU may not tell us how to manage our NHS, but it impacts in many ways," he said.
Lord Lansley said the medical research community was clearly "distraught" and leaving the EU would require steps such as writing the UK's own competition law for the public sector.
And he called on the sector to help put the case in the coming months for why it was important to protect the rights of people from the EU working the NHS.
"If we don't have enough people coming from the EU, our care sector cannot deliver."
Sarah Pickup, of the Local Government Association, which represents councils, which are in charge of services such as care homes and home help, said that sector would be affected too - an estimated 5% of care workers come from the EU.
She said while it was still early days, the impact on social care "needed thinking about".
Jeremy Hunt, England's health secretary, has tried to reassure EU health workers. "You do a brilliant job for your patients, you are a crucial part of our NHS and as a country we value you.
"We must all now do everything we can to ensure our whole workforce feels secure - because that is the only way we'll ensure we can deliver high-quality care for all."
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An expelled member of Zimbabwe's ruling party says a new party will be formed to challenge President Robert Mugabe.

Didymus Mutasa told the BBC the new party would also be called Zanu but the initials PF would stand for "People First" not "Patriotic Front".
Zanu-PF expelled Mr Mutasa and other senior members after accusing them of plotting to oust Mr Mugabe last year. They denied the claim.
Mr Mugabe, 91, is due to run for re-election in 2018.
He has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980.
The BBC's Brian Hungwe in the capital, Harare, says Mr Mugabe's sacked deputy, Joice Mujuru, is tipped to lead the new party, following the biggest split in Zanu-PF in the post-independence era.
The likes of Ms Mujuru and Mr Mutasa were veterans of the guerrilla war against white minority rule, and commanded a huge following in Zanu-PF, our reporter says.
The ruling party will therefore be worried that the proposed new party could take support away from it in the next election, he adds.
Ms Mujuru was known as "Spill Blood" during the guerrilla war, and served as Zimbabwe's vice-president until last year.
First lady Grace Mugabe, who is now a senior figure in the Zanu-PF, accused her of plotting to kill the president.  She denied the allegation.
Zanu-PF expelled her last week, accusing her of bringing the party into disrepute.


Campaigners in Argentina have identified another child abducted from left-wing political prisoners during military rule between 1976 and 1983.

The Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo group says DNA tests confirm the woman, now in her thirties, was the daughter of communist activists seized in 1977.
Her mother gave birth in prison and both her biological parents were never seen again.
The organisation says there are still more than 400 others to be found.
Human rights groups say the kidnapping of babies was part of a systematic government plan.
The plan was to place the children of people the government thought of as subversive with military families and allies to avoid raising another generation of what the military rulers considered left-wing radicals.
In this case, the woman is the child of Walter Dominguez and Gladys Castro, who lived in the northern city of Mendoza and both belonged to the Argentine Communist Marxist Leninist party.
They were arrested in their home by what the neighbours thought were police and taken away.
Gladys Castro was six months pregnant at the time. She gave birth in 1978.
The Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo was founded in 1977 with the goal of finding the children stolen and illegally adopted during the military government.


Ahead of a nationwide deadline over regulating the use of cookies, the BBC has learned that the "majority" of the UK government's own websites will fail to comply in time.

All UK sites have been given until 26 May to make sure visitors are able to give "informed consent" over cookies.
Cookies are pieces of personal data stored when users browse the web.
The Cabinet Office said the government was "working to achieve compliance at the earliest possible date".
Once the new rules take force, consent will most likely be obtained by ticking a "yes" box when visiting a site - although other approaches have been suggested.
The regulations are designed to protect user privacy when using the web.
"As in the private sector, where it is estimated that very few websites will be compliant by the 26th May, so it is true of the government estate," a Cabinet Office spokesman told the BBC.
"The majority of department websites will not be compliant with the legislation by that date."
The BBC understands that the sites, which range from those run by local councils to national departments, have been told that no action will be taken by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) over the deadline miss - provided they were "showing a commitment" to eventually make changes.
Cookies are small files that allow a website to recognise and track users. The ICO groups them into three overlapping groups:
Session cookies
Files that allow a site to link the actions of a visitor during a single browser session. These might be used by an internet bank or webmail service. They are not stored long term and are considered "less privacy intrusive" than persistent cookies.
Persistent cookies
These remain on the user's device between sessions and allow one or several sites to remember details about the visitor. They may be used by marketers to target advertising or to avoid the user having to provide a password each visit.
First and third-party cookies
A cookie is classed as being first-party if it is set by the site being visited. It might be used to study how people navigate a site.
It is classed as third-party if it is issued by a different server to that of the domain being visited. It could be used to trigger a banner advert based on the visitor's viewing habits.
"The impression I'm getting from the ICO is that even if there are complaints and you're found not to be compliant, unless it can be shown your intent was to avoid compliance, then they would work with you," said Mike MacAuley from the Local Government Association, which has hosted discussions on the issue.
The ICO did not want to comment on the issue when contacted by the BBC.
On 26 May the UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) imposes an EU directive designed to protect internet users' privacy.
The law says that sites must provide "clear and comprehensive" information about the use of cookies.
In computing, cookies are small text files that help organise and store browsing information.  However, cookies are increasingly being used to power targeted advertising, by gathering data about sites visited and search terms used.
It is these "tracking" cookies, which users do not often know about, which the EU hopes to clamp down on with the regulations.
The deadline had originally been set for May last year. However, the ICO - which will be enforcing the rules in the UK - decided to give firms an extra year to comply with the laws in order to avoid an "overnight" change.
At the time, communications minister Ed Vaizey said: "It will take some time for workable technical solutions to be developed, evaluated and rolled out so we have decided that a phased in approach is right."
While government websites do not carry advertising, cookies are still used to carry out various tasks, such as helping site administrators monitor levels of traffic.
"If people listen to our advice and are prepared to take steps towards compliance there shouldn't be a problem," Dave Evans, the ICO's group manager for business and industry,
          told E-Consultancy last month
.
"However, if businesses deliberately stop short of total compliance, then there is a risk."
Mr MacAuley said meetings had been held earlier this month between the LGA's members and the ICO to discuss how best to comply.
"I think the issue is really more about what the spirit of the regulations is intended to prevent," he said.
"They're intended to prevent any kind of malicious exploitation of cookies, or any wilful avoidance of the regulations. I think the ICO takes a very dim view of that.
"However I don't think local governments would in any way try to do either of those things."
Vinod Bange, a lawyer for Taylor Wessing who has spent time consulting companies who are cautious of the changes, said the small number of businesses who have invested in meeting the guideline deadline could be left feeling frustrated.
"There will be some companies out there wondering why they've gone to the expense, and committed a lot of resource, into trying to tackle a problem which is not going to be enforced," he said.
In the interview with E-Consultancy, the ICO's Mr Evans said there would not be a team of investigators seeking out infringing sites, but would act on complaints.
"How likely it is that complaints will flood in, we don't know," he said.
"It may be that the great British public simply isn't that concerned about cookies."


Oxford United manager Michael Appleton is on the hunt for a new striker before the January transfer window closes.

Appleton faces being without forward Ryan Taylor, 27, for at least six weeks after he picked up a groin injury against Bristol Rovers on Sunday.
"Ryan's struggling, he's seen a specialist and it could keep him sidelined anywhere above six weeks," Appleton told BBC Radio Oxford.
Oxford, third in League Two, travel to fifth-placed Portsmouth on Saturday.
Appleton, who returns to the club he managed for a year between 2011-12, is hoping to bring striker Chris Maguire back to the Kassam Stadium.
Maguire, 27, returned to parent club Rotherham on Sunday after making eight appearances in a six-week loan spell with the U's.
"I think he's quite keen to return, but the ball is obviously in Rotherham's court," added Appleton. "As long as discussions between him and Rotherham go well, then hopefully we'll benefit from that."
Appleton admits January is a chance to "freshen up" his squad with the potential for players to go out on loan as well as new faces coming in.
"There's still a good week or so to try to get reinforcements in," he said. "There's certain players in our squad who deserve an opportunity to try to go and play football elsewhere.
"If they can do that and help us along the way by doing well against sides that are up there against us then so be it."


A flotilla of more than 30 boats and water craft has cruised across Rio de Janeiro's Guanabara Bay to protest against water pollution with a year to go before the 2016 Olympics.

The protesters made the 12km (7-mile) journey to highlight high levels of bacteria in the bay.
They said they were concerned about the health of the athletes taking part in Olympic sailing competitions.
Trials for the events are due to start in Rio waters next Saturday.
The  authorities in Rio initially promised that 80% of the bay would be cleaned up in time for the Games, but they admitted more recently that they would not meet these targets.
Only one of eight water treatment plants has been built so far.
The Brazilian sailor and Olympic medallist Isabel Swan was one of the organisers of the protest.
She  competed in the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and says the area used for sailing in China had problems with a large algae bloom but this was dealt with two months ahead of the competition.
She told the BBC the failure by Rio de Janeiro city and state to meet their commitments made her feel "very bad".
"It's important that we can leave a legacy for our children and for Brazilian people," she said.
"It was very important to bring the Olympic Games to Rio, but we weren't able to clean the bay.
I want to create a movement that will inspire people to defend Guanabara Bay and help the government make a real commitment to cleaning it up. "
Trials for the Olympic sailing competitions due to start next Saturday have been hampered by concerns about the impact on the health of the athletes.
A recent investigation by the Associated Press showed that the waterways in Rio to be used in the Olympics are carrying high counts of disease-causing viruses directly linked to human sewage.
Sergio Ricardo, an ecologist and founder of the Bahia Viva (Living Bay) movement, which organised the protest, said the pollution which affects the bay is caused by a number of different factors.
"The main challenges are sewage treatment and industrial control. The oil industry is encroaching on the fishermen in the bay. We need public policy for fishing, reforestation and sewage treatment so that the bay can live."


Democratic US Senator Elizabeth Warren was silenced by Senate Republicans on Tuesday after reading a letter written by the widow of Martin Luther King Jr.

The 30-year-old letter criticised Jeff Sessions, President Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general.
Mitch McConnell, the Republican majority leader, said Ms Warren had broken Senate rules by impugning the conduct of another senator.
She is banned from speaking again in the Senate on Mr Sessions' nomination.
The vote is expected on Wednesday.
After the rule was invoked several Democratic senators read the letter on the floor of Congress, so that it could be entered into the official record.
The incident has outraged Democrats, and delighted the Massachusetts senator's detractors.
So what is the rule that gagged her, and was it fairly applied?
The incident occurred during a debate in the Senate on the nomination of Mr Sessions to be America's top prosecutor.
Elizabeth Warren started reading a 1986 letter by Coretta Scott King, written to oppose President Reagan's nomination of Mr Sessions as a federal judge.
Ms Scott King's letter alleged that Mr Sessions was unsuitable for that role because he had "used the awesome powers of his office in a shabby attempt to intimidate and frighten elderly black voters".
Ms Warren also quoted the late Senator Ted Kennedy, who called Mr Sessions a "throwback to a shameful era".
Mr Sessions' nomination process has been dogged by allegations of racism.
The Alabama senator has denied the allegations, and his supporters have pointed to his vote to extend the Voting Rights Act.
Ms Warren's reading was interrupted by the Senate's presiding officer, Republican Senator Steve Daines of Montana, who said she was breaking a rule that stops senators accusing each other of "unbecoming" conduct.
Mr McConnell, the Republican leader of the Senate, agreed.
His objection to Ms Warren's speech was put to a vote, and the chamber voted to silence Ms Warren by 49 to 43.
Under Rule 19, members of the Senate are not allowed to "directly or indirectly, by any form of words impute to another Senator or to other Senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator".
Ms Warren denied breaching it, saying: "I am surprised that the words of Coretta Scott King are not suitable for debate in the United States Senate. I ask leave of the Senate to continue my remarks."
However, the Republicans disagreed, and voted to silence her.
It depends who you ask. Democrats have argued that Republicans are selectively enforcing the measure.
In July 2015 Senator Ted Cruz of Texas was not found to have violated it despite accusing Mitch McConnell - a member of his own party - of a "flat-out lie".
On 1 February, Republican Senator David Perdue tested the waters with a direct attack on Chuck Schumer, the Senate's top Democrat, who cried at a press conference on President Trump's immigration ban.
"The minority leader's tear-jerking performance over the past weekend belongs at the Screen Actors Guild awards, not in a serious discussion of what it takes to keep America safe," he said.
Mr Schumer said of Ms Warren's treatment: "If the average American heard someone read a letter from Coretta Scott King... they would not be offended. It seems to me that we could use Rule 19 almost every day on the floor of the Senate. This is selective enforcement."
However, Mr McConnell defended the decision after the vote, saying Ms Warren had been given a warning.
"Sen Warren was giving a lengthy speech. She had appeared to violate the rule. She was warned. She was given an explanation," he said. "Nevertheless, she persisted."
Ms Warren subsequently read Coretta Scott King's letter live on Facebook, outside the Senate.
The letter by Coretta Scott King was widely shared on social media with the hashtag #LetLizSpeak.
Mr McConnell's own words spawned a hashtag - #shepersisted - celebrating Ms Warren's perseverance.
Bernice King, the daughter of Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King, wrote on Twitter: "Thank you @SenWarren for being the soul of the Senate during the #Sessions hearing. #LetCorettaSpeak #LetLizSpeak"
The Democratic National Committee said in a statement it was a "sad day in America when the words of Martin Luther King Jr's widow are not allowed on the floor of the United States Senate".
However, Republican Senator Orrin Hatch told NBC that Ms Warren's move was not appropriate in the chamber.
"Even if what she said was true, it wasn't the right thing to do," Mr Hatch said. "I've been appalled at the way Democrats have treated Jeff Sessions."
Senator Elizabeth Warren, 67, is the darling of America's liberal left, many of whom have urged her repeatedly to run for the presidency.
Lawyer, Harvard professor, grandmother - she served in many roles before being elected as a senator for Massachusetts in 2012.
The daughter of an Oklahoma maintenance man, she is the state's first female senator, with a reputation as a crusader against Wall Street excess.
In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, Ms Warren headed the Congressional Oversight Panel for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, the government bailout of the banking sector.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was also her brainchild.
Many of her ardent fans might be surprised to learn this outspoken critic of the conservative establishment was a Republican until her early 40s.


Bolton Wanderers held Birmingham to a goalless draw in a cagey Championship affair at St Andrew's.

Birmingham winger David Cotterill's deflected shot was the closest either side came in the first half but Bolton goalkeeper Mark Howard kept it out.
Lukas Jutkiewicz missed a good chance for the hosts in the second half, heading off target from a corner.
Gary Madine's header forced Birmingham goalkeeper David Stockdale into a one-handed save in the latter stages.
Harry Redknapp brought new signing Isaac Vassell off the bench for his debut following his arrival from Luton on Monday but the striker could not break the deadlock.
The draw is the second in a row for Phil Parkinson's Bolton, while Birmingham have four points following a win and a defeat in their first two games.
Birmingham boss Harry Redknapp:
"I couldn't see us winning and I was looking for the final whistle. I couldn't say that I enjoyed the game.
"It was almost the same team which struggled to stay up last season and that is a big worry.
"There is ambition in the club to get in some quality otherwise it is going to be another tough season."
Bolton manager Phil Parkinson:
"In open play I thought we had the better chances. Darren Pratley had a good opportunity, while Adam Armstrong produced two good efforts.
"All round I can feel the team is growing in confidence at this level. We looked fit and strong and that is important.
"The concentration level was also excellent. The signs are very promising on this performance against a strong Birmingham side."
Match ends, Birmingham City 0, Bolton Wanderers 0.
Second Half ends, Birmingham City 0, Bolton Wanderers 0.
Attempt blocked. Craig Gardner (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Isaac Vassell (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Reece Burke (Bolton Wanderers).
Attempt missed. Adam Le Fondre (Bolton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Filipe Morais with a cross following a set piece situation.
Foul by Ryan Shotton (Birmingham City).
Adam Le Fondre (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Jonathan Grounds (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Adam Le Fondre (Bolton Wanderers).
Foul by Maikel Kieftenbeld (Birmingham City).
Josh Cullen (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Ryan Shotton (Birmingham City) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by David Cotterill with a cross following a corner.
Corner,  Birmingham City. Conceded by Aaron Wilbraham.
Filipe Morais (Bolton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Isaac Vassell (Birmingham City).
Mark Beevers (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Craig Gardner (Birmingham City).
Jem Karacan (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Bolton Wanderers. Aaron Wilbraham replaces Gary Madine.
David Cotterill (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Andrew Taylor (Bolton Wanderers).
Attempt saved. Reece Burke (Bolton Wanderers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Hand ball by Craig Gardner (Birmingham City).
Foul by Maikel Kieftenbeld (Birmingham City).
Darren Pratley (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Ryan Shotton (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Gary Madine (Bolton Wanderers).
Corner,  Bolton Wanderers. Conceded by David Stockdale.
Attempt saved. Gary Madine (Bolton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Andrew Taylor with a cross.
Offside, Birmingham City. Craig Gardner tries a through ball, but Isaac Vassell is caught offside.
Nsue (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Adam Le Fondre (Bolton Wanderers).
Attempt missed. Lukas Jutkiewicz (Birmingham City) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by David Cotterill with a cross following a corner.
Corner,  Birmingham City. Conceded by Dorian Dervite.
Substitution, Birmingham City. Isaac Vassell replaces Clayton Donaldson.
Substitution, Bolton Wanderers. Adam Le Fondre replaces Adam Armstrong.
Attempt missed. Jacques Maghoma (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Craig Gardner following a corner.
Corner,  Birmingham City. Conceded by Josh Cullen.
Corner,  Birmingham City. Conceded by Filipe Morais.


Stirling University beat Hamilton Academical 3-2 to give the departing Rachel Donaldson the perfect send-off.

Donaldson played her last game for Stirling after 14 years before taking up a scholarship in the USA.
It was her cross that picked out Ashley McDonald to equalise after Lori Gardner had given Accies an early lead.
Jade Gallon's penalty made it 2-1, but Gardner equalised with three minutes left only for Beth McKay to find a winner within 60 seconds.
That result moves Stirling to within a point of third-placed Celtic on the day when the other six sides in the Scottish Women's Premier League were all inactive.
Hamilton though have now lost six on the bounce and sit just one point above bottom side Aberdeen.
In SWPL 2, Motherwell fought back from behind to beat Edinburgh University Hutchison Vale at Ravenscraig.
However, they still remain nine points behind pace-setters Forfar Farmington who beat Buchan 4-0.
Glasgow Girls are also level on points with Motherwell following a 2-0 win away to Jeanfield Swifts.
And Hearts remain in the promotion chase, albeit 11 points off top spot, following a 6-0 thumping of East Fife.


The average UK household's disposable income - or spending power - rose by nearly £600 in 2015-16.

The typical household had £26,332 to spend after taxes were paid and benefits received, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
Retired households saw a faster rise than others compared with the previous year, owing primarily to income from private pensions.
The richest fifth of the population saw a slight fall in their spending power.
The average UK household saw their disposable income rise by £564 compared with the previous year, after the rising cost of living - measured by inflation - was taken into account, the ONS said.
Senior statistician Claudia Wells said: "Household incomes are above their pre-downturn peak overall, but not everyone is better off.
"While retired households' incomes have soared in recent years, non-retired households still have less money, on average, than before the crash."
The median average disposable income of pensioner households has recorded a rise of 13% since 2007-08, compared with a 1.2% fall among non-retired households.
The ONS puts growing private pensions ahead of the guaranteed rise in the state pension - under the so-called triple lock - as the long-term reason for the pick-up in pensioners' incomes.
However, the £21,770 of typical spending power for retired households remains below the £28,481 of non-retired households.
The top fifth of households saw real incomes fall back by £1,000 a year, while the poorest gained £700 on average in 2015-16, the ONS said.
Top pay levels have come under pressure, but employment prospects and pay for the poorest have improved, it added.
The figures come as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he would like to see a maximum cap on the amount people can earn.
Household income has tended to pick up faster over the years owing to an increasing number of couples both in employment.
Matt Whittaker, chief economist at the Resolution Foundation think tank, said: "It was another strong year for living standards, particular for poorer households. Strong employment growth, low inflation and rising pensioner incomes over recent years have helped drive inequality down to its lowest level in nearly 30 years.
"However, the last three years of growth have come back off the back of a living standards squeeze so deep that typical working age families are still £345 poorer than they were before the financial crisis.
"With employment plateauing, productivity growth refusing to budge and inflation rising, the risk is that this mini boom won't continue."
Former chancellor George Osborne tweeted that "ONS data today shows inequality fell in 2015/16 & incomes of poorest rose. Progressive Conservative policy at work."


A vicar who went on the run as he was convicted of pocketing £24,000 of fees intended for weddings and funerals is believed to have fled to Europe.

Simon Reynolds, of Farnham, Surrey, did not return to Sheffield Crown Court for the verdict on Thursday and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest.
South Yorkshire Police launched a manhunt, and has since said Reynolds could have fled to the continent.
He was vicar at All Saints Church in Darton when the thefts happened.
Judge Julian Goose QC said Reynolds had disappeared from court at lunchtime even though his bail rules did not allow him to leave the building.
He was found guilty of four counts of theft in his absence.
The Bishop of Wakefield, the Rt Rev Tony Robinson, said he was concerned for the welfare of Reynolds and urged him to "come back to face the people in Sheffield".
He added: "For someone to abscond in this way they mustn't be in a great mental state and we want to assure Simon that we'll do all we can to support him."
Reynolds, of Upper Church Lane, was accused of keeping an estimated £24,000 of fees handed over by bereaved families and engaged couples when he was priest-in-charge of the church near Barnsley.
The trial had previously heard money from three of the thefts should have been sent to the Wakefield Diocesan Board of Finance for marriages, funerals and graveyard memorials.
The fourth count of theft relates to payments for monuments that should have gone to the parochial church council.
The court was told an investigation showed Reynolds had only passed on a fraction of what he should.
Suspicions were raised after Reynolds left Darton in 2013 to take up a new post in the Diocese of Guildford.


Supporters of freedom of information will be relieved, but many of its critics will be disappointed.

That is the likely reaction to the new report by the Commons Justice Committee, which has assessed how FOI is working in practice and concludes that the UK's Freedom of Information Act "is serving the nation well".
The two controversial topics it has focused on most are the cost of FOI and its impact on the frankness of internal policy debate. In both areas the MPs on the committee are not convinced by many of the challenges from those who think the FOI system is too expensive or damaging to good government or both.
Thus, on the starkest, most high-profile issues, the committee does not recommend giving cabinet records or other policy documents any increased legal protection from FOI requests; nor does it back the introduction of up-front fees for making freedom of information applications.
But it is clear from the cautious and nuanced report - and from their lines of questioning at the committee hearings - that the MPs do have some significant worries.
The Ministry of Justice will now have to consider how to respond to the committee's review of the workings of the Act and whether to bring forward any changes.
Much of the evidence to the committee from public authorities concerned the administrative burden of FOI. While the report stresses that FOI disclosures can prompt savings as well as costing money, it suggests a number of smaller measures to address the expense issue.
Currently most public authorities can reject FOI requests where it would take them more than 18 hours to retrieve the information. The MPs propose cutting this to 16 hours. But they reject as unfeasible the more drastic option of allowing authorities also to count towards the limit the time spent thinking about whether to release material.
It is interesting to see that the committee strongly maintains that well-run public authorities can cut the cost of FOI considerably.
As to whether FOI has in fact introduced a "chilling effect" on honest records of policy discussion, the MPs are clearly concerned and summarise the evidence on both sides while eventually remaining agnostic. However they argue that if this is the case, the solution is not to curtail FOI. Instead senior government figures should proclaim that FOI does leave a "safe space" for internal debate and use their ministerial right of veto over the Information Commissioner if necessary.
Yet there is one category of critic of the FOI system who will be pleased - university researchers. Many academics had argued that the UK-wide FOI Act should have an exemption for academic research intended for later publication, as is the case in Scotland. This is the only restriction on the scope of FOI that the committee back.
In terms of the main complaints coming from those who want greater openness, the MPs were clearly influenced by the argument that there is too much delay in the current system.
The committee recommends that the law should lay down statutory time limits on how long public authorities can take to assess whether releasing material is in the public interest and to decide on reviews of their previous decisions. Currently the time limits are only advisory.
The report is unanimous and some of the conclusions have a balanced "on the one hand, on the other" tone which hints at compromises and some differences beneath the surface.
The MPs are clearly very cross with Tony Blair because of his failure to give evidence to them in person, despite his well-publicised self-condemnation of himself as a "nincompoop" for introducing FOI.
But for me the most striking feature of his letter to the committee is the fact that it states one purpose of the legislation was "to permit people to access information about themselves held by government".
This is simply wrong, since personal information of this kind is specifically excluded from the FOI Act and is instead covered by the Data Protection Act.
I have also heard this same inaccurate and peculiar claim made by Jonathan Powell, Blair's former chief of staff and fellow FOI critic.
I don't know what to make of this error, but since Mr Blair did not appear in front of the committee, the MPs did not have a chance to ask him about it.
Finally, as a declaration of interest, I should state that I gave evidence to the committee from a journalistic perspective for BBC News.


A forestry worker has been killed in an accident near Selkirk.

Emergency services were called to Sunderland Hall late on Tuesday afternoon following reports of a man being badly injured.
The victim has been named locally as Kenny Scott, 58, originally from Jedburgh, but latterly living at Minto.
Despite efforts from paramedics and the call-out of an air ambulance, he was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
Members of the Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team were also called out due to the difficult terrain.
A spokesman said: "All involved are deeply saddened by this tragic outcome and our thoughts are with the family of the deceased."
The Health and Safety Executive has been made aware of the accident and a full investigation into the circumstances will be launched.
A spokesman said: "We have been made aware of an incident at Sunderland Hall and we are liaising with Police Scotland to determine the circumstances."