UK government no longer a controlling shareholder in Natwest after taking stake below 30 per cent March 25, 2024 Taxpayers paid £45.5bn for the bailout but have lost out as Natwest’s share price has halved since then.
Euro rate hikes: Not done yet, says member of the governing council May 7, 2023 The European Central Bank’s interest rate hikes are starting to have an effect, but more will be needed to contain inflation, Dutch Central Bank President Klaas Knot said on Sunday. Knot, who is also on the ECB’s governing council and is known as a hawk, said he had agreed with the ECB decision on Thursday [...]
Coffey: Government has full confidence in water industry’s financial resilience July 6, 2023 Therese Coffey says she has “full confidence in the financial resilience” of the water industry, amid warnings Thames Water’s struggles are “not an isolated case”.
Yield on fresh UK government debt hits highest level since 2007 July 5, 2023 The amount of interest the UK government has to pay investors buying its newly minted debt has hit its highest level since the financial crisis. Britain’s Debt Management Office (DMO) – the body tasked with issuing bonds – today sold a tranche of gilts to traders with a yield just shy of 5.7 per cent, [...]
Government lags on ‘disappointing’ semiconductor strategy already as advisory panel still not announced July 5, 2023 The government’s Semiconductor Advisory Panel (SAP) announcement is almost a month late, leaving chip experts questioning the effectiveness of the national semiconductor strategy. In the national semiconductor strategy, published in May, the government said it will “formally launch the advisory panel at London Tech Week in June 2023 as part of our drive to promote [...]
UK Government doles out £32m for AI projects – after ditching £1.3bn pledge August 7, 2024 The British government has announced plans to back 98 artificial intelligence (AI) projects across the country with an injection of £32m. The funding, which aims to supercharge ‘high-growth’ industries, will benefit over 200 businesses and research outfits. The projects span a broad range, including improving safety on construction sites to slashing railway repair times and [...]
Government ‘does not have any spending plans’ after March 2025, OBR chief says November 28, 2023 MPs scrutinised the OBR after its latest round of forecasts.
MPs to probe if SMEs can get cash they need – or if the government should step in July 3, 2023 The Treasury Committee has launched a new inquiry into the problems small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face in accessing financing. Over the next couple of months the cross-party group of MPs will explore issues in the industry and how regulation and government can respond. Harriett Baldwin, chair of the Committee said: “Small businesses are the [...]
UK solar projects risk being ‘tainted’ by Uyghur forced labour, government told September 5, 2023 UK solar energy projects could be at risk of being “tainted” by forced Uyghur labour due to large-scale human rights abuses taking place in China, the government has been warned. Foreign Affairs Select Committee chair Alicia Kearns has tabled an amendment to the Energy Bill – which MPs are set to debate today – calling [...]
Spring Budget 2024: Government outlines steps to privately finance HS2’s Euston station March 6, 2024 The government has outlined the next steps for securing private sector funding for HS2's embattled Euston station in the Spring Budget today.