The shaft and silo project ‘advanced transition' work is getting underway at Dounreay. Radioactive waste was historically consigned to the 65 metre deep shaft and the silo, an underground waste storage vault, over several decades starting in the late 1950s.
March 2020 saw the highest number of SORNs (Statutory Off Road Notifications) made of any month in the past decade, so we've busted 9 common myths about it. Each year around 3.4 million vehicles are declared as being "off the road" (Statutory off Road Notification or SORN) - sometimes for just a few months at a time.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) blog highlights world food prices are rising. By Christian Bogmans, Andrea Pescatori, and Ervin Prifti Rising world food prices for producers are making headlines and causing concerns among the public.
Transport Secretary announces measures to continue cautiously reopening international travel in a safe and sustainable way. Malta, Madeira, the Balearic Islands, several UK overseas territories, and Caribbean islands, including Barbados are added to the government's green list for travel.
Findings from the REACT-2 studies show over a third of people who had coronavirus (COVID-19) reported symptoms lasting at least 12 weeks. This amounts to 5.8% of the whole study population, with 2% reporting severe symptoms Prevalence of long COVID increased with age and was higher among women Over 2 million people in England are thought to have had one or more COVID-19 symptoms lasting at least 12 weeks according to one of the largest studies of the virus funded by the government.
New rules on advertising unhealthy foods online and before 9pm on TV across the UK after public consultation. These restrictions will help protect children from developing long-term unhealthy eating habits and improve nation's health, and forms just one part of wider plans to tackle childhood obesity.
New additions have been made to the international travel green list for Scotland to include Malta, Madeira and the Balearics. There will be close monitoring of the position in the Balearics over the next three weeks ahead of the next review point.
Measures no longer necessary to support the ongoing public health response will be removed from the Scottish Coronavirus Acts after Parliament approved their expiration. The Coronavirus (Extension and Expiry) (Scotland) Bill was voted for by MSPs after three days of scrutiny.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have benefitted from £28 billion of UK government funding to the devolved administrations, figures released today by the Treasury show. The annual publication of the Block Grant Transparency shows that since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic the Scottish Government has received an additional £14.5 billion, the Welsh Government an additional £8.6 billion and the Northern Ireland Executive an additional £5.0 billion.
New contracts to enhance maintenance and repair services across Service Family Accommodation (SFA) supporting jobs across the UK Defence supply chain over 7 years. Five new contracts worth £650-million have been awarded to industry to deliver crucial building and maintenance services for more than 39,000 Service families.
The latest Office for National Statistics mid-year estimates suggest the UK population has reached 67 million for the first time. But the year to June 2020 saw considerably slower growth than recent decades as the effects of the pandemic took hold.
Five years after its creation, the Lord Speaker's committee on the size of the House has called for firm, fast action on reducing the number of peers in the legislature. Chair of the committee, Lord (Terry) Burns, argues that it is essential that party leaders have the courage to come together and agree the necessary measures.
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) sets monetary policy to meet the 2% inflation target, and in a way that helps to sustain growth and employment. At its meeting ending on 22 June 2021, the Committee judged that the existing stance of monetary policy remained appropriate.
1,747 new cases of COVID-19 reported 26,794 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results 6.9% of these were positive 2 new reported death(s) of people who have tested positive. 16 people were in intensive care yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19.
The UK government and EDF have agreed improved arrangements to safely and efficiently decommission Britain's 7 AGRs, due to reach the end of their operational lives this decade. New decommissioning arrangements reached with EDF for 7 advanced gas cooled reactors (AGRs) due to come offline by 2030 deal reached for Nuclear Decommissioning Authority to work with EDF to ensure AGR nuclear sites remain safe and secure for future, with no impact on the UK's energy supply.
The Highland Council noted this week's announcement on the changes to the Scottish qualifications and assessment system following the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Organisation (OECD) report which backs Scotland's school curriculum in its independent review. Last year, the Scottish Government commissioned the OECD to carry out a review of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE).
Thousands of unpaid carers will receive a double payment this winter under legislation recognising the additional pressure they face as a result of the pandemic. If approved by Parliament, the Bill, published today, will mean more than 91,000 carers in receipt of Carer's Allowance Supplement will receive an extra £231.40, doubling their December payment to £462.80.
Investment of almost £1 billion to tackle child poverty in the last financial year has been welcomed by Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison. She has also pledged to bring forward "game changing" policies as she called for society to unite to eradicate child poverty in Scotland.
Businesses are being asked to note their interest in establishing fair and sustainable green ports in Scotland. Adapting the UK Government freeport proposals, the aim of Scottish green ports is to offer a package of tax and customs reliefs to operators and their beneficiaries who adopt fair work practices and contribute to Scotland's just energy transition to net zero.
Three UK-built satellites are set to launch on a SpaceX rocket on Friday, showcasing the UK's strengths in new technology. Monitoring and tackling climate change and tracking endangered wildlife are among the exciting features of three UK-built satellites set to launch on a SpaceX rocket.
