A toxic smog has shrouded London: Here’s how it could affect our health March 19, 2015 A thick smog has covered London and many other parts of the UK today, causing Britain to be placed on health alert. According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), it is formed from a combination of home-grown smog and European air pollution. Areas affected include the south west, London, the south [...]
MPs urge govt to help protect dairy producers January 20, 2015 MPs urged the government yesterday to do more to protect dairy farmers against falling milk prices. A report published by the parliamentary Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) Committee Groceries Code Adjudicator suggests a raft of measures to help the dairy industry deal with volatile market. It wants the role of the Groceries Code Adjudicator [...]
Two of the big four supermarkets pay less than the cost of production for milk, Sainsbury’s advert claims January 21, 2015 Sainsbury's has revealed how much supermarkets pay farmers for milk- and claims that at least two of the big four stump up less than the cost of production. The figures have been released as part of the grocer's latest ad campaign, which claims that “at Sainsbury's we support our British fresh milk farmers,” asking [...]
Labour hits out at Defra figures January 16, 2014 THE GOVERNMENT came under fire yesterday for revised figures that showed less had been spent on flood protection than previously thought. Labour’s shadow environment secretary Maria Eagles called the revised figures “humiliating” for the government. “The corrections we have made are generally minor and do not affect the headline conclusion that we are spending more [...]
Yorkshire duck farm bird flu outbreak: How is the disease transmitted and can it affect humans? November 17, 2014 A case of bird flu has been confirmed at a duck breeding farm in East Yorkshire. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it occurred in the village of Nafferton, and that an exclusion zone had been set up around the farm to prevent further transmission. It added that 6,000 ducks [...]
Autumn Statement 2015: George Osborne’s speech transcript in full including stamp duty, business rates and corporation tax announcements November 25, 2015 Mr Speaker, this Spending Review delivers on the commitment we made to the British people that we would put security first. To protect our economic security, by taking the difficult decisions to live within our means and bring down our debt. To protect our national security, by defending our country’s interests abroad and keeping our [...]
Politicians concerned that spending cuts could jeopardise Environment Agency’s flood work January 7, 2014 POLITICIANS warned yesterday that budget cuts at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs could endanger the country’s efforts to deal with flooding and other extreme weather. Defra’s budget will be cut from £3bn in 2010-11 to £2.2bn by 2015-16, meaning it faces some of the most stark spending reductions of any government [...]
Environment minister warns risk of flooding remains high January 6, 2014 MORE flooding could be on the way this week as the recent bad weather looks set to continue, the environment minister has warned. Owen Patterson gave a statement in the House of Commons yesterday and warned residents to remain vigilant after bad weather claimed the lives of seven people over the Christmas period. The minister, [...]
Food industry groups aim for £500m UK boost with new plan October 6, 2013 FOOD and drink firms could serve up a £500m boost to the UK economy, with a campaign to promote local businesses internationally. The UK food and drink industry, UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), and the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) said they have spent a year developing a plan to grow exports [...]
The former City men and women among today’s peerage lineup August 1, 2013 There are a few former City types among the 30 new peers welcomed to the House of Lords today. Howard Leigh (Conservative): Senior partner at Cavendish. Leigh is a qualified charterd accountant who set up Deloitte’s M&A group in early 1986 and Cavendish Corporate Finance in 1988. He’s also chaired the Conservative party’s The Leader's [...]