‘Not the 1970s’: Minister slaps down four-day week calls from civil servants Politics 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 Politics 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… Politics 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 [...]
Supermarkets face calls to ban plastic for fresh goods October 17, 2024 An influential environmental NGO has called for the Government to ban plastic packaging on fruit and vegetable products in a bid to make grocery shopping more environmentally friendly. Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) have called for a ban on packaging for 21 products including apples, carrots and tomatoes to reduce food and plastic waste. [...]
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.
UK water firms could face £2bn in fines over next five years, Moody’s warns August 15, 2024 UK water companies could be hit with a total of roughly £2bn in fines over the next five years, Moody's has estimated, warning that more demanding proposals from the industry regulator increase risk in the sector.
Water regulator welcomes plan to boost customer compensation August 12, 2024 The water industry watchdog has said it “welcomes” the government’s plan to increase compensation for customers receiving poor services from water companies.
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.
Thames Water and Ofwat tight-lipped on plans to cut fines and avoid nationalisation May 29, 2024 Thames Water has asked Ofwat to allow it to increase bills for customers. A decision will be made by 11 July.
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?