LIVE – Updated at 11:39

Prime minister does not deny Guardian report on one-off payment as ministers meet unions in effort to end disputes. 

11:39

This is what Rishi Sunak said in his pooled broadcast interview this morning when asked about reports the government was considering a one-off payment to nurses. Asked if one-off payments could be offered to workers in other sectors too, he replied:

We’ve always said the government is happy to talk about pay demands, pay issues, that are anchored in what’s reasonable, what’s responsible, what’s affordable for the country, but the most important thing is those talks are happening. Let’s try and sit down and find a way through.

Asked again to confirm that a one-off payment was on the table, he replied:

You wouldn’t you would expect me to comment on specifics, but the most important thing is that the conversations are happening … with regard to pay.

Asked to clarify whether ministers would talk about the current, 2022-23 pay offer in the talks with unions today (which is what the unions want), or whether the talks would just cover the settlement for the next financial year (originally the government’s intention – it has said it will not reopen the current pay offer), Sunak dodged the question. He just said that people could be reassured that dialogue was happening, and he repeated his point about the need for a pay settlement to be affordable. He added:

The talks are happening, that’s a good, positive sign, and the most important thing is we let those talks carry on.

Sturgeon says Scottish government to pay for extra beds in care homes to free up space in hospitals

11:38

Last night Steve Barclay, the health secretary, announced that the UK government wiould spend £200m paying for extra beds in care homes and other settings so that hospitals can discharge patients more quickly. This should have an impact on the A&E crisis because the shortage of hospital beds is probably the main reason why so many patients are having to wait hours in ambulances before they can be properly admitted to hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, is giving a press conference in Edinburgh, and she has just announced a broadly similar policy. These are from the BBC’s James Cook.