In the benefit system, entitlement and need are intertwined: the greater the need, the more benefit income a family is usually entitled to receive. But in the 2010s, two policies were introduced that delinked entitlement and need by limiting the amount of benefits some families could receive: the benefit cap in 2013, and the two-child limit in 2017.
The Federal Reserve announced Wednesday it was keeping interest rates at their current levels amid improving consumer confidence and a declining inflation rate. In the run-up to Wednesday's announcement, some Fed officials have been signaling that the current rate has been enough to knock inflation down toward the central bank's 2% target.
Alan Bates, the former Sub-postmaster who is at the heart of the fight for justice in the post office Horizon scandal, has said today he will reject the compensation offered to him by the government. He got the offer yesterday afternoon and Mr.
It might have taken a drama to galvanise the response to a crisis - but the public inquiry into the Post Office Horizon scandal is gradually bringing more details to light, as hundreds of victims seek justice for their ruined lives. The inquiry will be hoping to uncover more details when it examines a series of covert recordings.
Marine Management Organisation (MMO) byelaw to protect valuable marine habitats and species in a further 13 English offshore marine protected areas (MPAs) will come into force on 22 March 2024. Following formal consultation in 2023 and an official announcement on 31 January 2024 as part of Government's 1 year on Environmental Improvement Plan progress update, management measures prohibiting the use of bottom towed fishing gear will be introduced to protect an area of almost 4,000 square kilometres off the English coast.
Income tax and National Insurance Contributions are our biggest taxes. Together they raise almost half of all tax revenues.
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 31 January 2024, the MPC voted by a majority of 6-3 to maintain Bank Rate at 5.25%.
The National Decommissioning Centre (NDC) and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) are working to improve environmental outcomes and deliver sustainable decommissioning. The National Decommissioning Centre (NDC) and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) are working in partnership on research to support the energy sector to reduce costs and emissions, improve environmental outcomes and deliver sustainable net zero decommissioning.
It was a cool, dusty morning in July 2021, when I first visited the Kamilombe cobalt mine in Lualaba Province in south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Situated just outside Kapata on the south-west outskirts of Kolwezi, a mining town that has historically served as an important centre for copper and cobalt.
The potential future population size of the UK. These statistics are widely used in planning, for example, fiscal projections, health, education and pensions.
This Wednesday 31 January 2024 will see the UK roll out the first stage of its new border rules - here's what you need to know and why so businesses are worried. The UK is introducing new customs and SPS requirements on all goods being imported into Britain starting 31 January 2024, as part of its new UK Border Target Operating Model.
Time series data on starts and completions of new build dwellings in the UK and local authorities, on a quarterly and annual basis from the Office for National Statistics. The latest house building statistics show that between January and March 2023 there were 45,050 dwellings completed in the UK.
The UK government has spent the past three years working to reduce the number of refugees coming to the country. At the same time, political crises around the world have meant millions of people needing to flee their home countries and seek asylum elsewhere, including the UK.
One in three Australian adults has high blood pressure (hypertension). Excess salt (sodium) increases the risk of high blood pressure so everyone with hypertension is advised to reduce salt in their diet.
Scotland's onshore GDP contracted by 0.1% in November, according to statistics announced by the Chief Statistician. This follows a contraction of 0.6% in October 2023 (revised from ‑0.5%).
What's in your stuff? Most of us give no thought to the materials that make modern life possible. Yet technologies such as smart phones, electric vehicles, large screen TVs and green energy generation depend on a range of chemical elements that most people have never heard of.
On a wet day in January 2023, I took Scottish Labour MSP, Mercedes Villalba, on a vape hunt. Having seen some of the vape litter picking videos I had made which went viral, she asked to come along and see the problem for herself.
‘BTOM' border regulations, introduced today, are flawed, says the international delivery expert ParcelHero. These will require health certificates for many EU animal and plant products, entirely undermining the Government’s new ‘Critical Imports and Supply Chains Strategy’.
UK general government gross debt was £2,654.3 billion at the end of Quarter 3 (July to Sept) 2023, equivalent to 100.0% of gross domestic product (GDP). UK general government deficit (or net borrowing) was £39.2 billion in Quarter 3 2023, equivalent to 5.8% of GDP.
The Prime Minister launches this year's Business Council today (31st January 2024) and will meet with members throughout the year to discuss economic growth. PM to receive intelligence from the vanguard of business.
