The US House of Representatives passes a Republican bill proposed by Speaker John Boehner to increase the nation's debt ceiling and cut the budget deficit.

The way taxpayers are treated by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has been lambasted by MPs on the Treasury select committee.

Fraudulent claims are costing £18m a week, according to the Association of British Insurers.

Centrica's operating profits fall to £1.3bn for the first half of the year, with profits at its British Gas business halving to £270m.