government

Social media users given legal advice

The Government’s chief legal advisor will in future issue advisory notices to Twitter and Facebook users to help prevent them committing a contempt of court.

The advice has previously only been issued to journalists on a ‘not for publication basis’ is designed to make to make sure a fair trial takes place will warn people not to comment on certain aspects of court cases.

The...

Government announces cap on payday lending

The Government has announced that it plans to introduce a new law capping the interest charges of payday loans.

The cap which has yet to be set will be decided by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the new industry regulator.

The announcement marks a turnaround in policy as the government and the FCA have previously said that a cap was unnecessary.

The cap has been...

Spending watchdog says utility bills could continue to rise for years to come

Household utility bills may continue to rise above the rate of inflation for the next 17 years, according to the Government's spending watchdog, the National Audit Office (NAO).

A report by the watchdog has concluded that government and regulators do not know by how much overall expected new investment by the private sector in infrastructure will increase household utility bills for...

Firefighters walk out for a fourth time

Firefighters in Plymouth have walked out for a fourth time today (Wednesday 13 November) over pensions and the age of retirement. The four-hour strike action took place between 10am and 2pm.

The action by firefighters in England and Wales follows a deadlock in talks between the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and government over pensions and retirement age.

The Government plans to...

2,000 offers on properties under Help to Buy scheme

The Government says that more than 2,000 people have put in offers on homes under the Help to Buy scheme, totalling £365 million of new mortgage lending.

The applications are backed by a ‘decision in principle’ by RBS and Lloyds, the first two participating banks, for 95 per cent mortgages. Ten of the 2,384 applications have already completed.

The figures demonstrate that the...

Government sets out plans to reshape workplace pensions

The government is setting out a range of proposals to reshape workplace pensions for future generations.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says these are designed to create more certainty for individuals, share investment risks more equally, and help employers to keep offering the best possible workplace pensions.

The proposals follow the government's commitment in the...

Firefighters return to work after latest strike

Firefighters are returning to work in Plymouth and around the South West after the latest in a series of strikes by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU).

The two-hour walkout took place between 6.00am to 8.00am on Monday 4 November.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service has reported no serious incidents this morning.

The Union said that government Fire Minister Brandon...

Government announces energy reforms to help consumers switch to the best deal

Reforms to make the energy market competitive and work in the public interest unveiled as part of the Annual Energy Statement 2013

Consumers will find it easier to switch and get the best deal, forcing energy companies to compete much more actively for their custom, according to the Government.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Edward Davey announced the reforms on...

"Cut the Big Six energy companies down to size, George" says consumer champion

As the bosses of the UK's six biggest energy companies are called in front of the Energy and Climate Change Committee (ECCC), to justify recent price rises; the consumer champion Which? has launched a campaign to persuade the Chancellor of the Exchequer to take action on rising energy bills in his Autumn Statement.

Which? said: "With almost eight in ten people worried about rising...

Billions could be saved by improving children's health, says Chief Medical Officer

  • Report on children’s health makes strong case for change as data shows five excess child deaths per day in UK compared to Sweden
  • Billions could be saved by investing in young people

Much more needs to be done to improve UK children’s health, and acting early will save taxpayers’ money, the Chief Medical Officer has said in a frank assessment of the state of the...

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