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Calls to nurture small airports as drivers of regional growth
EU aviation policy must pay special attention to the needs of regional airports, according to a resolution adopted by Parliament. Their potential to boost regional development and reduce congestion at major air hubs could be unlocked by integrating them in the Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T), MEPs believe. Regional airports are vital for territorial cohesion and [...]
(Continue reading)Welsh Secretary to represent UK in South East Asia
Secretary of State for Wales, Cheryl Gillan, will represent the UK Government on a five-day visit to South East Asia. Mrs Gillan will become the first Cabinet Minister from the Coalition Government to visit Thailand, underlining the importance maintaining strong trade and tourism links as well as strong diplomatic ties with Thailand and other emerging [...]
(Continue reading)Pre-legislative scrutiny into draft Energy Bill
The Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee will hold an inquiry to examine the draft Energy Bill with a view to reporting soon after the House rises for the summer recess. In the Queen’s Speech to both Houses of Parliament on 9 May, it was announced: “My Government will propose reform of the electricity market [...]
(Continue reading)EAC publishes report on sustainable food
The Government must develop a joined-up strategy to change the UK’s unhealthy and environmentally damaging food system, as fears mount about global food security, MPs on the Commons Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) have warned. The Committee’s Sustainable Food report recommends that: stricter advertising limits protect children from junk food marketing on all media including the internet [...]
(Continue reading)Funding for Scotland’s national collections
Funding to ensure the National Library of Scotland (NLS) remains a national and international asset has been announced by Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop. The exterior of the NLS’s Causewayside building in Edinburgh is to be replaced, with support of over £2m from the Scottish Government. The building will be transformed into a low energy storage [...]
(Continue reading)Green initiatives analysis reveals household savings
Scotland’s Energy Minister, Fergus Ewing, has welcomed analysis which shows that household bills will be lower with green policies and renewable energy than with the status quo. The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) estimates that consumer bills by 2020 will be £94 lower with low carbon policies than without them. The figures show [...]
(Continue reading)NFB: Construction can halt double-dip rollercoaster
The National Federation of Builders (NFB) has called on the Government to take action to help SMEs help the economy and avoid a double-dip recession. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that in Q1 2012, the UK re-entered recession. GDP, which showed a fall of 0.3% in Q4 2011, fell a further 0.2% [...]
(Continue reading)HLF museums funding
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has announced initial support worth £76m for eight major projects in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The sites are: Ditherington Flax Mill Maltings, Shropshire – internationally important conservation area and home to the world’s oldest iron framed building; V&A at Dundee – an exciting new museum to be located in [...]
(Continue reading)Best practice guide for countryside building published
Northern Ireland Environment Minister Alex Attwood has launched definitive guidance for rural building projects. The document, ‘Building on Tradition’, is a best practice design guide that aims to assist all involved with sustainable development in the Northern Ireland countryside to understand the requirements of Planning Policy Statement 21 (PPS21) ‘Sustainable development in the countryside’. Mr [...]
(Continue reading)Shapps: £1.8m to tackle ‘beds in sheds’
Criminal landlords trapping vulnerable people in ‘suburban shanty towns’ will get the justice they deserve, Housing Minister Grant Shapps has pledged. He has allocated a £1.8m fund to areas blighted by so-called ‘beds in sheds’, to tackle the problem head-on and end this growing practice by ruthless landlords. Mr Shapps appealed to councils who may [...]
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