Select Committee
Parliament

Labour's Ian Lucas asks Nicole Sapstead if she is satisfied that other countries have robust anti-doping measures.

"No," the UK Anti-Doping chief replies.

She claims that some countries have "limited or token anti-doping programmes".

Select Committee
Parliament

Culture, Media and Sport Committee Chairman Jesse Norman asks Nicole Sapstead of UK Anti-Doping to name "other sports that are most at risk" of doping scandals, aside from athletics.

The chief executive suggests weight-lifting, amateur boxing, rowing and cycling, adding that she is speaking from an international, rather than a UK, perspective.

Select Committee
Parliament

The SNP's John Nicolson asks Nicole Sapstead about UK Anti-Doping's resources.

"If we see there is wrong-doing, we will divert resources to where the wrong-doing is, to the detriment of another sport," Ms Sapstead says.

She suggests that "a small percentage rise in ticket prices" could fund a levy for anti-doping.

Select Committee
Parliament

MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee conclude their questions to UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner.

Next in the hot seat is Nicole Sapstead, chief executive of UK Anti-Doping, who is making a follow-up appearance before the committee.

The Daily Politics

Former Conservative Chancellor Norman Lamont says he has not made up his mind on how to vote in the planned EU referendum. "I can see pluses and minuses," he says, adding:

Lord Lamont was part of yesterday's "war-gaming" on possible scenarios of the EU renegotiations, including a British exit.

The director of a young offenders' unit at the centre of allegations that staff assaulted teenage boys has quit.

Ralph Marchant is stepping down from Medway Secure Training Centre in Kent after criticism of its management following a BBC Panorama investigation.

Justice Secretary Michael Gove has ordered G4S to develop an improvement plan for the centre, with changes to be overseen by a panel of four experts.,

More here.

The Daily Politics

Liz Kendall, Labour MP and former leadership contender, tells the Daily Politics it's very important that Labour's policy making remains "as open and inclusive as possible". She said it must not be too centralised.

On Trident renewal - which is expected to be voted on in Parliament before the summer - Ms Kendall says Labour should have a united position on the issue, and points out the party's current position is in favour of renewal. (for those not following the issue, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is opposed)

While she wants the world to be free of nuclear weapons, she says it can only be done through multilateralism, not unilateralism.

The British National Party is asking for permission to field candidates at May's elections, after being struck off the register of recognised parties by the Electoral Commission.

It was removed from the list after failing to apply and pay the £25 fee. Its list of official party "statements" - descriptions which can appear on some ballot papers - have been published on the Commission's website for comment.

Norman Smith
Assistant political editor

The government has tabled a motion in the Commons setting out some of the rules for the EU referendum, fuelling speculation that David Cameron is preparing for a referendum in June.

The decision is likely to face criticism from Eurosceptics given that Mr Cameron has not yet reached a deal with other EU countries over the reforms he is seeking.

It's thought the PM is anxious to have the rules approved by MPs as swiftly as possible - limiting the ability of Eurosceptics to delay the date of the referendum.

The rules cover issues such as the length of the campaign, funding, and the timing of the count.

The Electoral Commission say there should be a gap of at least 10 weeks between the rules being approved and the referendum being held.

Sources say this Monday they expect the President of the European Council Donald Tusk to send out his proposals for a deal at next months' EU summit. 

Select Committee
Parliament

The governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, is asked by MPs on the Treasury Select Committee whether the media correctly interpreted his first speech of the year, where he said he had no timetable for raising interest rates.

He replies:

Some more on government proposals to toughen up penalties for drivers caught using hand-held mobiles.

Its consultation cites research from the Institute of Advanced Motorists, which suggests that 9% of drivers regularly take "selfies" at the wheel.

The consultation will look at whether technology could be used to put motorists' phones into a "drive-safe mode" automatically.

Neil Greig, from the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), says: 

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, William Mead's family

Shadow health secretary Heidi Alexander has been granted an urgent question to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt on NHS England's report into the death of William Mead and the 111 Helpline.

Twelve-month-old William, from Penryn, died of blood poisoning following a chest infection in December 2014.   

The question will be taken at 12.30 GMT.

More here. 

At the Culture Media and Sport Select Committee hearing on blood doping in athletics, Labour MP Paul Farrelly appears to question Lord Coe's suitability as president of the IAAF. He says Lord Coe is a "national sporting legend" but that the doping scandal "happened on his watch" and asks if the sport needs "a clean break to be credible".

UK Athletics' Ed Warner replies:

The government is proposing tougher penalties for drivers caught using a hand-held mobile phone. The Department for Transport is looking at increasing the number of penalty points given to offenders, from three points to four; and a 50% increase in the fixed penalty fine - taking it from £100 to £150. HGV drivers could be handed up to six points on their licence.

The plans are in a consultation document launched by the Department of Transport today, which says that increasing both fines and penalty points is the government's "preferred option".

The consultation relates directly to England and Wales, but says its impact may apply in Scotland as well.

The biggest sale of publicly-owned land in Wales in recent years was carried out in a "cavalier" and "disturbing" way, a Welsh Assembly committee has said.

The public accounts committee has published a report on the Regeneration Investment Fund for Wales' land sales.

More here.