³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

The Daily Mail and the Daily Express are angry about the £8.7bn spent by the government on personal protective equipment that was faulty, or not used by its expiry date.

The Mail describes the situation as a , coming just a week after it emerged that more than £4bn pounds had been lost to Covid loan fraud.

The Express calls it "scandalous". The Financial Times is also critical, saying .

As the government prepares to announce its long-awaited "levelling up" plans, the Independent says , because ministers are picking projects "too small to revive poorer areas" and failing to analyse "what works".

The Independent also says that Communities and Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove is believed to have lost a battle with the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, for more cash.

Boris Johnson is facing fresh claims about lockdown parties in Downing Street. The Daily Telegraph reports that the prime minister was seen heading up to his official flat on 13 November 2020,.

The Guardian also says it's learned that , on 14 January last year, during the post-Christmas lockdown period.

The paper says the prime minister is understood to have given a speech thanking the No 10 aide for their work and stayed for about five minutes.

Downing Street says it can't comment on the reports due to the ongoing police investigation.

Sign up for a morning briefing direct to your inbox

The Times reports that Boris Johnson is poised to announce , to ease the impact of soaring wholesale prices on household bills. The paper says the help would amount to a £200 saving for every household.

It's thought the firms will recoup the money from consumers in subsequent years, to pay back the loans, as energy prices fall. The Times says the government is also expected to announce more targeted measures for poorer households.

The Daily Mirror warns that . The paper says struggling families are being warned to brace for "hit after hit" this spring, with "soaring bills, tax hikes and wage cuts".

The Telegraph reports that . The paper says health watchdogs are set to announce a rule change, which will mean that women who experience post-menopausal symptoms - such as difficulty sleeping - can access treatment more easily.

And finally, a ceasefire has been reached in the caterpillar cake war, according to the Daily Star. The paper reports that Marks & Spencer has settled its dispute with the discount supermarket, Aldi, which it had accused of copying its popular Colin the Caterpillar cake.

The Star says the deal is confidential, but it understands that Aldi's "Cuthbert" will not appear appear again in quite the same form. "Peace in our teatime," declares the paper.