‘Not the 1970s’: Minister slaps down four-day week calls from civil servants November 14, 2024 Civil servants won’t get a four-day working week as we’re “not living in the 1970s”, the pensions minister has said. Emma Reynolds slapped down the demand from Whitehall bureaucrats on Times Radio, after it emerged staff at one department claimed the policy could save the government millions. Workers at the Department for Environment, Food and [...]
‘Wasteful’ disposable vapes to be banned by next June October 24, 2024 Disposable vape sales will be banned by next summer, the government has said, branding the e-cigarette products “wasteful”. Fresh legislation to ban the sale of single-use vaping devices from June 2025 was introduced before Parliament on Wednesday. The government says an estimated five million single-use vapes were littered or thrown away each week last year [...]
Column: Water, water everywhere… October 23, 2024 Or why the latest twist in the sewage tale suggests a rebalancing of Labour’s priorities England’s water system made a splash again this week, hitting the headlines as the government announced their latest move to – as they put it – clean up the industry. An independent review, led by none other than the former [...]
Scrapping Ofwat could be considered by new water sector commission October 22, 2024 Scrapping watchdog Ofwat could be considered by a new independent commission on the water sector as ministers aim to attract investment into the industry. Ministers have launched the largest review of the sector since it was privatised, with the commission set to be chaired by former deputy Bank of England Governor Sir Jon Cunliffe. It [...]
Labour looks to water down packaging tax plan September 29, 2024 Ministers are set to make changes to a planned £1bn packaging tax proposed by the last government, according to reports.
Government approval paves way for new Thames Water ‘mega-reservoir’ in South Oxford September 4, 2024 The government has endorsed Thames Water’s plans to manage water supply for the next 50 years, paving the way for a controversial new £1.5bn ‘mega-reservoir’ in South Oxford. Steve Reed, the environment minister, has approved the embattled water firm’s proposal—called its Water Resource Management Plans—in which the firm maps out its strategy to secure the [...]
Starmer: Nationalising debt-laden Thames Water ‘not consistent’ with our fiscal rules July 8, 2024 Nationalising Thames Water would “not be consistent” with Labour’s fiscal rules, the Prime Minister’s spokesman has said.
Explainer in brief: Asian hornets have invaded the UK, but should you be afraid? May 20, 2024 Brits are being told to remain “vigilant” this summer as UK sightings of Asian hornets reach record highs, but should you be afraid?
Chickens: The latest victims of Bureaucracy Britain April 25, 2024 Neil Bennett, co-CEO of H/Advisors and proud chicken owner, takes the Notebook pen to talk about how red tape if affecting his poultry.