News Archive
31/7/2024
Young Workers To Get Pay Boost - National Living Wage For 18 To 20-year-olds To Be Phased In
The government is committed to ensuring that every adult worker benefits from this genuine living wage, and we will remove discriminatory age bands for adults. In the interim, we ask that the Low Pay Commission recommends a National Minimum Wage rate that should apply to 18 to 20-year-olds from April 2025.31/7/2024
Child Maintenance Consultation Extended
Child maintenance consultation extended to allow more time for engagement from external organisations. The Government has today extended a consultation on the Child Maintenance Service to ensure there is suitable time for feedback from external organisations.31/7/2024
Boosting Housing Targets Is Welcome, But More May Be Needed To Deliver Enough Urgently Needed Affordable Homes
Cara Pacitti, Senior Economist at the Resolution Foundation, said, "Bolstering mandatory housing targets for local authorities is a welcome step that should go some way to helping the Government meet its ambitious target of 1.5 million new homes over the Parliament. "However, planning reform alone is unlikely to deliver all the affordable homes we so desperately need in this country, and a significant ramping up of affordable housebuilding is likely to require additional public funding too.30/7/2024
Up To £35 Billion In Additional Spending Pressures This Year Wipes Out Headroom, Creating Difficult Choices For Autumn Budget
The Chancellor this afternoon unveiled a £35 billion laundry list of spending pressures for 2024-25 - more than enough to wipe out existing headroom against getting debt falling in five years' time. This leaves her tough choices for the Autumn Budget if she is to increase growth and bring down debt, the Resolution Foundation said today (Monday).30/7/2024
Chancellor Statement On Public Spending Inheritance
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves statement to the House of Commons on 29/07/2024. Mr Speaker, on my first day as Chancellor of the Exchequer, I asked Treasury officials to assess the state of public spending.
30/7/2024
Government Confirms Above Inflation Pay Award For Teachers in England
School teachers to receive fully funded 5.5% pay award. School teachers and leaders will receive a fully funded 5.5% pay award, reflecting the vital contribution they make to children's life chances.30/7/2024
Fresh Offer Paves Way To End Junior Doctor Strikes
The BMA will recommend members accept the offer following the negotiations, which could bring an end to 15 months of devastating strike action. End to junior doctor strikes in sight as union recommends members accept government offer.30/7/2024
Chancellor Cuts Pensioner Heating Allowance But Urges Pensioners To Check Eligibility For Pension Credit
The Chancellor Rachel Reeves asked that pensioners check if they are eligible for Pension Credit ahead of the removal of the heating allowance. Anyone entitled to pension credit will still receive the heating allowance.30/7/2024
Happy 50th Birthday To The UPC Barcode - No One Expected You Would Revolutionize Global Commerce
The first modern barcode was scanned 50 years ago this summer - on a 10-pack of chewing gum in a grocery store in Troy, Ohio. Fifty is ancient for most technologies, but barcodes are still going strong.
30/7/2024
Chancellor - I will take the difficult decisions to restore economic stability
Chancellor addresses House of Commons with a pledge to ‘restore economic stability' after revealing £22 billion of unfunded pressures inherited from the previous Government. Findings of a Treasury spending audit reveal £22 billion of unfunded pledges inherited from the previous Government this year.30/7/2024
XL Bully Dog Safeguards To Come Into Force
New rules for owners take effect this week. XL Bully owners have until midnight Wednesday 31 July to apply for an exemption certificate ahead of new laws coming into force.30/7/2024
Trading Standards Doorstep Scams - Cleaning & Maintenance
There's been a recent increase in reports of doorstep scammers who go door to door and offer to carry out cleaning or maintenance work on properties. In many cases they provide misleading information about their products, saying they will save money on energy bills or increase the value of your house.30/7/2024
New Redress Scheme Opens For Postmasters With Overturned Convictions
Postmasters whose convictions have been overturned by the Post Office Offences Act can now apply to a new redress scheme. Postmasters whose convictions were overturned by the Post Office Offences Act can now access the new Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme.
30/7/2024
Rolls-royce Small Modular Reactor Design Completes Second Step Of Regulatory Assessment
Rolls-Royce SMR Limited's 470 MWe Small Modular Reactor design completes Step 2 of Generic Design Assessment (GDA). The Environment Agency, Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) announced today (Tuesday 30 July) that they are progressing to the next step of their assessment of Rolls-Royce SMR Ltd's 470 MWe Small Modular Reactor (SMR) design.
30/7/2024
Harnessing Start-up Solutions To Improve Lives - CivTech Round 10 Launched To Drive Public Sector Innovation
Up to £8 million of Scottish Government funding is being made available to help start-up businesses and entrepreneurs solve public sector challenges. The latest round of the Scottish Government CivTech programme invites companies and individuals to come up with innovations and products that will improve lives and practices across a wide range of public sector areas.29/7/2024
Thurso Community Council Tries To Get the Real Reasons For Avonlea Children's Home in Wick closure
Thew John O'Groat Journal highlighted a letter from Thurso Community Council to Highland council. The controversy surrounding the closure of Avonlea Children's home in Wick and the decision to stop respite care in Thor House in Thurso has left people in doubt about the decisions.29/7/2024
Creating Economic Benefits For Local Communities - Still Time To Have Your Say
The Highland Council is reminding individuals and community groups that there is still time to take part in the consultation seeking views on the Draft Community Wealth Building Strategy. This new strategy aims to ensure every area and community across the Highlands can participate in, and benefit from economic activity.
29/7/2024
Blue-green Algae Warning At Loch Watten, Caithness
The Highland Council's Environmental Health team is advising caution as blue-green algae has been found in Loch Watten, Caithness. During periods of prolonged warm weather, the chance of Blue Green algae (cyanobacteria) affecting water courses, particularly ponds, lochs and canals (as well as rivers), increases significantly.
29/7/2024
Wealth Check - What The New Government Needs To Know About Household Wealth As It Navigates The Challenges Ahead
ritish household wealth has been on a rollercoaster ride in recent years. In Q1 2024, it was estimated to be worth more than six times GDP (630 per cent), more than 50 per cent higher than the last time Labour came into power (410 per cent in 1997).
29/7/2024
