Daily roundup 14 February: Times tables, tax-free childcare, and Barry Bennell

Schools minister Nick Gibb refused to answer questions on his times tables during live TV appearances this morning as he launched a policy for tougher multiplication tests for primary school children. The Evening Standard reports that the government has announced a new assessment for eight- and nine-year-olds in England in a move that attracted criticism from teaching unions. But, appearing on ITV's Good Morning Britain to promote the policy, Gibb declined to answer a simple multiplication question.


Tax-free childcare has opened to all remaining eligible families whose youngest child is under 12. HM Revenue and Customs has said that the scheme helps working parents with the cost of childcare, as for every £8 parents pay into their childcare account, the government will add an extra £2, which could result in an additional £2,000 per child per year.


Former football coach Barry Bennell has been found guilty of multiple sexual offences against boys from the youth systems of Manchester City and Crewe Alexandra. The Guardian reports that the jury heard he had used his position in the sport to disguise the fact that he was a "child molester on an industrial scale". Bennell, 64, was convicted of 36 charges at Liverpool crown court relating to 10 boys and the jury will return on Wednesday for a fifth day of deliberations about seven charges that are still outstanding.


Tower Hamlets Council's youth service has been relaunched amid continuing police and town hall investigations into mismanaged funds of an estimated £1m. The East London Advertiser reports that while a police investigation is currently ongoing, council investigations have already resulted in eight staff members being dismissed, with disciplinary action taken against another, and five youth service employees having to resign.