UK WEARY OF AUSTERITY, ADMITS HAMMOND, BUT POLICY ON PUBLIC SECTOR PAY REMAINS

The public are "weary" of austerity but the Government's approach to the public sector pay cap has not changed, Chancellor Philip Hammond said.

The Government would continue to assess the balance between being fair to public servants and the taxpayers who fund their wages, the Chancellor told business leaders.

He said there had to be a "grown-up" debate about how to meet demands for improved public services, arguing that increasing economic growth or broad-based tax increases were the only ways to fund them.

'GENOMICS DREAM' COULD OFFER HOPE TO CANCER PATIENTS WITHIN FIVE YEARS

A new era of genome-based personalised medicine could open up for cancer patients within five years under new plans unveiled by the Government's chief medical adviser.

The "genomics dream" outlined by Professor Dame Sally Davies would see millions of patients having all their DNA tested as genome sequencing becomes as routine as MRI or CT scans.

Ultimately, the future goal is for every cancer patient to have his or her whole genome sequenced, making the procedure as standard as blood tests and biopsies.

GRENFELL TOWER INQUIRY WILL CONSIDER RESIDENTS' FIRE SAFETY WARNINGS

The retired judge leading the inquiry into the Grenfell Tower disaster is prepared to consider the "broad" causes of the fire amid concern from survivors' groups over its scope and leadership.

Sir Martin Moore-Bick previously indicated his investigation would be limited to the causes of the deadly fire, why it spread so quickly and how it could be prevented in future.

But survivors suggested they were prepared to abandon the process unless the parameters were broadened to consider systemic issues, such as why residents' concerns about fire safety were allegedly ignored by authorities.

BREXIT NOT THE PRIORITY FOR EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES, ADMITS PHILIP HAMMOND

Brexit is not a dominant issue for European Union countries, Philip Hammond acknowledged as he called for jobs and prosperity to be the first priority in the negotiations.

The Chancellor told business leaders that the UK had to remember that Brexit was "just one among many challenges" facing the other EU members.

He said the Government had to "focus relentlessly" on the key components of a free trade deal and customs agreement that "minimises friction", with transitional arrangements to avoid a cliff-edge change on the day the UK breaks away from Brussels.

CHARITIES FACE BIG FINES FOR REQUESTING DONATIONS WHEN ASKED TO STOP

Charities could be fined tens of thousands of pounds if they fail to comply with new rules introduced this week to crack down on nuisance requests for donations.

The Fundraising Preference Service (FPS) will allow members of the public to say they want to stop a specified charity or charities contacting them directly by phone, email, text or post when it launches on Thursday.

Should a charity fail to comply with a person's wishes it may be reported to the Information Commissioner by the Fundraising Regulator.

PARENTS URGED TO TAKE PRIMARY SCHOOL SATS RESULTS 'WITH A PINCH OF SALT'

Primary schools must not be judged on their SATs tests results alone, headteachers have warned.

Schools and parents know that the results, due to be published on Tuesday, must be taken with a "pinch of salt", according to the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT).

More than half a million 11-year-olds across England took national curriculum tests, known as SATs, in May. The results are used in annual school league tables to assess a school's performance.

MERCURY RISING AGAIN WITH HIGHS OF 30C SET TO BRING THUNDERY SHOWERS

Warm weather is set to return as meteorologists predict Wednesday and Friday will both be scorchers, with highs of 30C (86F) expected for parts of England and Wales

However, they warn there will also be thundery showers on Thursday.

Mark Wilson, a meteorologist from the Met Office, said: "It's going to be pretty warm across the south. We could see highs of 28C (82.4F) by Wednesday."

NORTH KOREA LAUNCHES BALLISTIC MISSILE IN|TO JAPANESE WATERS

North Korea launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile on Tuesday that flew for a longer time than previous such projectiles, landing in waters near its bitter rival, Japan.

The test is the latest in a string of recent similar launches as the North works to build a nuclear-tipped missile that can reach the US mainland.

It came on the eve of the US Independence Day holiday, days after the first face-to-face meeting of the leaders of South Korea and the United States, and before of a global summit of the world's richest economies.