The PCS union says workers at the National Gallery in London are to stage a five-day strike in a row over the privatisation of services.

Image source, PA

More from Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who has responded to Labour criticism over revised guidance on when some hospitals can call a "major incident". In a series of tweets, external, he says a local decision taken in the West Midlands has been "cynically exploited" by Labour's Andy Burnham and criticises the NHS in Wales, for which Labour is responsible.

Image source, Twitter

tweets:, external I'm going to be covering #GE2015 for @spectator in a Mini. Track my progress at http://specc.ie/1CcLE4b, external #MiniElection

Image source, Spectator

A Ministry of Defence spokesman denies a report , externalin the Daily Mail that officials are examining plans to move the Trident nuclear fleet from Scotland to Wales.

The spokesman says: "The Ministry of Defence is not doing any work on this. There are no plans to move the deterrent."

Image source, PA

MPs continue to press Sir Michael Wilshaw - they want to know whether allegations that inspectors asked children inappropriate questions about sexuality and faith are true. He's insisting that, having "looked at the evidence base thoroughly", there is "no evidence to suggest inspectors used inappropriate language to these children". What the inspectors were trying to establish, he explains, is whether homophobic bullying was taking place. So they had to use direct language in order to establish this.

tweets:, external Labour should focus on improving care for patients in Wales instead of trying to score political points in England.

BBC News Channel

Paul Lewis, who presents Moneybox on BBC Radio 4, says the costs of care in old age vary widely in different areas. There will be a £72,000 cap on costs in England from 2016, but no such measure in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, he adds.

Care calculator launched by BBC

tweets:, external Best factoid in Fallon speech : the MOD owns 15 golf courses! #defence

Sir Michael Wilshaw is in defensive mode over at the Education Select Committee where MPs are quizzing him on Ofsted's critical reports for Grindon Hall Christian School in Sunderland and the Durham Free School. He denies a "political agenda" against Christian schools, telling MPs the lead inspectors were "very critical of what they saw".

"They saw poor behaviour, they saw declining standards, they saw a lot of bullying. I think it has to be recognised that parents always - even when schools are declining very badly - always try to support the school. These two schools are doing badly. Parents deserve better."

Caring for people in old age - and how it should be funded - is rarely far from the political debate. The BBC has launched an online guide which will tell you how much care costs in your area.

Image source, Thinkstock

It's not just Ofsted's Sir Michael Wilshaw who's facing questions in Parliament today:

• Mark Harper, the disability minister, is being grilled over the impact of the coalition's disability and incapacity benefit reforms.

• Universities minister Greg Clark faces questions over the government's approach to science policy.

• And, starting at 10:30 GMT, trade minister Lord Livingston will again address the concerns of some MPs that the EU-US trade deal known as 'TTIP' imperils the NHS.

tweets: , externalThe @WelshGovernment has announced how it will spend the £70m of extra money it got as a result of the Autumn Statement.

BBC News Channel

Labour's health spokesman Andy Burnham says he wants to know who approved guidance, issued in the West Midlands, on when NHS trusts should declare a "major incident". He says the "perception on the front line" is that it is "more about news management than patient safety".

The Sun

The Sun, external is reporting that Labour has sought talks with Sinn Fein about forming a post-election coalition. The paper quotes a Sinn Fein source saying he'd been approached by members of the shadow cabinet. Sinn Fein have not taken up their five seats in Parliament and say they have no intention of doing so.

Things are up and running in Parliament already this morning, Sir Michael Wilshaw, head of Ofsted, is giving evidence to the Commons Education Committee. You can watch it as it happens on the BBC's Democracy Live site

It could be a landmark day for fracking in the UK, as Lancashire County Council decides whether or not to give the go-ahead for two drilling sites on the Fylde Coast. If it says yes, it will be the most significant development since the government called a halt to shale gas exploration in 2012, because of concerns it may have caused two minor earthquakes near Blackpool.

BBC Breakfast's Graham Satchell has been following one woman's campaign against the application.

tweets:, external Labour announce plans to help build more homes http://labli.st/1CxqDzT , external

The Guardian

Northern Ireland parties Sinn Fein and the DUP are both separately considering legal action in an attempt to secure a place in the proposed TV election debates - the Guardian is reporting, external. Politicians have clashed over who should be included in the debates, and broadcasters are now planning to stage one involving the Conservatives, Labour, the Lib Dems, Green Party, UKIP, the SNP and Plaid Cymru.

Here is the document at the heart of this morning's story about guidelines on "major incidents" that have been issued to NHS hospitals in the West Midlands. It sets out 17 questions for trusts to consider before declaring one.

More on the developing story on new guidelines that have been issued to some NHS trusts on declaring "major incidents". A spokesman for NHS England says the guidelines are not designed to deter hospitals form declaring a major incident. He says: "This is not a note saying don't call a 'major incident'. It is advice to them saying if they are going to declare a major incident here are some things that might help."