government

Government announces new 'cost of driving' measures

The Government has announced measures to help motorists to cut the cost of running a car. These include a crackdown on whiplash fraud, a freeze on MOT test prices and a scheme designed to reduce the cost of fuel at motorway service stations, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling announced today.

Quoting statistics from the AA, the Ministry of Justice said that the average cost of motor...

Fire Brigades Union calls off Saturday's strike

A second strike called by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) that was due to disrupt services in Plymouth has been called off.

The industrial action had been scheduled for Saturday (19 October) between 6.30pm and 11.30pm, but the Union says this has been postponed due to progress in talks with the Government over pensions.

Further negotiations are due to take place between the FBU...

Jobseekers to start signing new Claimant Commitment

New jobseekers will have to account more clearly for their efforts to find work to get their benefit

Starting today (14 October 2013), new jobseekers will have to account more clearly for their efforts to find work in order to receive their benefit.

New claimants to Jobseeker’s Allowance will now need to sign a 'Claimant Commitment' which sets out more fully what they need to...

Law Society warns that Legal Aid changes pose "significant risks"

The Law Society has warned the Justice Select committee that proposed changes to legal aid pose "significant risks" to the stability of our criminal justice system.

The Law Society, which represents solicitors in England and Wales, has written formally to the government in response to Ministry of Justice proposals to make the pricing of legal aid at least partly competitive.

In...

Government says 10,000 people on property ladder under Right to Buy

Over 10,000 people have taken their first step on the property ladder under the reinvigorated Right to Buy scheme, according to new government figures released on Thursday 10 October.

Housing Minister Kris Hopkins said this increase in sales shows both the rising demand from tenants to become homeowners and, crucially, will lead to more affordable homes being built.

According...

Law Society warns that Government changes to legal aid pose "significant risk"

The Law Society has warned the Justice select committee that proposed changes to legal aid pose "significant risks" to the stability of our criminal justice system.

The Law Society which represents solicitors in England and Wales, has written formally to the Government in response to Ministry of Justice proposals to make the pricing of legal aid at least partly competitive.

In...

Businesses urged to provide opportunity for all

A new report by the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission argues that internships should be fairly paid and openly recruited. The report urges businesses to help create an opportunity for all society.

It provides evidence that, despite good intentions, firms are too often inadvertently excluding some of the best and the brightest. The report states:

  • Only 7 per
  • ...

Government strengthens health regulator’s independence

The health regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), is to be given greater independence to ensure it can act "fearlessly" as the nation’s chief whistleblower on health, Jeremy Hunt Health Secretary has announced.

Under the proposals, the Health Secretary will relinquish a range of powers to intervene in the operational decisions of the CQC. This means that the CQC will no longer...

George Osborne wants long-term unemployed to work for their benefits

The government has unveiled a new Help to Work scheme aimed at encouraging the long-term unemployed back to work, under tougher rules for benefit payments.

The Chancellor George Osborne, told the Conservative Party conference in Manchester that welfare must be "fair for those who need it and fair for those who pay for it"

The scheme will mean people in long-term unemployment...

Record numbers of child adoptions in England

New figures show that almost 4,000 children in care were adopted in 2012 - an increase of 15% and the highest ever since records began.

The annual 'looked-after children' statistics show that 3,980 children were adopted across England between April 2012 and March 2013, up from 3,470 the previous year. This is higher than in any year since 1992, when comparable records began.

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