Author Archive
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Tax breaks for UK shale gas industry
The Government is proposing to reduce the tax due on income for shale gas producers from 62% to 30%. As well as increasing the UK’s energy security, ministers argue that shale gas could lead to the creation of thousands of jobs and to increased tax revenues from the oil and gas industry. Also promised is a "robust" scheme to make sure that local communities benefit from hosting shale gas exploration, with operators providing at least £100,000 of ...
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Breakthrough for UK solar thermal
The Solar Trades Association (STA) has welcomed a government-backed seven-year financial incentive for homeowners who install renewable heating technologies, including solar thermal. According to the STA, households with solar thermal are set to benefit by between £1,150 and £3,250 depending on the number of people in the home. The scheme will be open for applicants in Spring 2014 but installations since 15th July 2009 are eligible to join, meaning that customers can install right now with the ...
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EU endorses advanced biofuels
Draft legal measures to cap traditional biofuel production and accelerate the switchover to products such as seaweed and certain types of waste have been approved by the EU's Environment Committee. The proposed new measures are aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions that result from the increasing use of farmland to produce biofuel crops. A legislative report will be put to a plenary vote in Strasbourg in September.
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Insurers clarify employers’ liability for SMEs
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has published a new guide aimed at providing clarity for small and medium-sized firms purchasing employers' liability (EL) cover. Produced in consultation with The Federation of Small Business, the guide also explains the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and includes a table addressing some common concerns around adherence to health and safety guidelines. ABI director general, Otto Thoresen, comments: "Over-zealous interpretation of regulations risks bring the entire health and ...
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Ash disease found in Devon
Devon has become the 11th county in England where Chalara has been discovered in the wider environment (forests and woodland); the other counties are Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Kent, Surrey, West Sussex, East Sussex, Lincolnshire and Northumberland. The disease has now been confirmed at 525 sites including 185 locations in the wider environment. Chalara was discovered in England’s woodland last Autumn but as the trees are leafing, it is easier to see cases of the disease and ...
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Superfast broadband programme two years late
The Government's broadband programme, which aims to make superfast broadband available across the UK, will be two years late. According to the National Audit Office, only nine out of 44 local projects are expected to reach their original target of providing 90% superfast coverage by May 2015. In addition, a number of providers have withdrawn from the bidding and competition has been limited so that BT is likely to win all 44 local projects. The delay is partly ...
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TB from meat report “irresponsible scaremongering”
Defra has accused The Sunday Times of "irresponsible scaremongering" over a report suggesting that people are at risk of contracting TB through eating meat. Currently, all meat from cattle slaughtered due to bovine TB must undergo food safety checks before it is passed as fit for consumption. The Government reckons this means that the risk of a consumer contracting TB is "extremely low", regardless of whether or how the meat is cooked. According to Defra, the Food Standards ...
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Rural Community Energy Fund launched
Rural communities across England wanting to generate their own clean green power are being offered a helping hand with the launch of a £15 million government fund. The Rural Community Energy Fund, which is now open to applications, is designed to help with feasibility studies into renewable energy projects and cover the costs of applying for planning permission. Hopefully, projects will then be able to attract private finance to pay for renewable energy kit and get projects ...
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Growing gap between attitude and action on data management
More than half of European mid-sized firms say they would refuse to do business with a company that had suffered a data breach, despite the fact that 41% believe data loss is an inevitable part of daily business. That’s according to a new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and storage and information management company, Iron Mountain. The study shows that even as European companies are experiencing a 50% annual increase in data breaches, their approach to information management is ...
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Health & Safety clarification for work experience students
The Government has outlined plans to make it easier for employers to take on work experience students, as some firms have been hampered in the past by the prospect of special risk assessments for young people. The Health and Safety Executive has now issued revised guidance to employers and the Department for Education has worked with Ofsted to publish guidance on how Ofsted will inspect Health and Safety for work experience students. Finally, to give employers peace ...
