Labour were the architects of austerity and continue to let us down over cuts
Someone had better call a doctor, because it’s clear the Labour Party are suffering from a bad case of collective amnesia.
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News story: Manchester seminar: Outcomes-based Commissioning: Learning from Payment by Results and Social Impact Bonds
Tuesday, 27 March, 2018
featuring
Professor Chris Fox
Director of the Policy and Evaluation Research Unit I Manchester Metropolitan University
Please see the attached flyer for further details and how to book.
News story: Carillion: Official Receiver’s update
A spokesperson for the Official Receiver said:
As a result of agreements entered into over the past week to purchase contracts held by Carillion ongoing employment has been confirmed for 942 employees.
Most employees who have transferred so far have done so on existing or similar terms and I will continue to facilitate this wherever possible.
Regretably 152 employees are being made redundant and they will leave the business later this week. Those who have lost their jobs will be able to find support through Jobcentre Plus’ Rapid Response Service and are also entitled to make a claim for statutory redundancy payments.
Discussions with potential purchasers continue and I expect that the number of jobs safeguarded through the liquidation will continue to rise. I am continuing to engage with staff, elected employee representatives and unions to keep them informed as these arrangements are confirmed.
- in total, to date 7,610 jobs have been saved and 1,141 jobs have been made redundant through the liquidation
- this information does not include contracts where an intention to purchase has been entered into but has not yet formally occurred
- further information about rights in redundancy is available on gov.uk
- continued support by Carillion’s public and private sector customers is enabling as many employees as possible to be retained in the interim until all contracts have been worked through
Press release: Illegal angler hooks £600 penalty
Anglers are being urged to obey the law after a Lincolnshire man was ordered to pay more than £600 for fishing illegally.
Shaun Hammond, 28, of Mariners Arms Flats, Keadby, was caught fishing without a licence at Hibaldstow Bridge on the River Ancholme in October last year.
He was discovered by an Environment Agency enforcement officer carrying out a routine patrol to enforce the law and protect the environment for people and wildlife.
Hammond committed an additional offence by refusing to give his name and address to the officer.
Enforcement officers are considered in law to be the same as police constables. Obstructing one effectively doubled the amount Mr Hammond was fined.
Hammond was proved guilty in absence at Grimsby Magistrates’ Court on 9 February. He was fined £440 – £220 for each offence – and ordered to pay costs of £127, as well as a victim surcharge of £44, bringing the total penalty to £611.
Caroline Tero, fisheries team leader at the Environment Agency, said:
Not only was Mr Hammond fishing illegally, he also obstructed a law enforcement officer who was doing his duty to protect the environment for people and wildlife. We and the courts take this very seriously and will always look to protect the wellbeing of our officers.
It makes no sense to have the embarrassment of a court visit, a criminal conviction and a bill for potentially thousands of pounds when an annual licence is currently just £30. We hope this will make people think twice before picking up a rod illegally and if they don’t, our officers are ready and waiting.
Steve Powell, Enforcement Once team manager for the Environment Agency, said:
The case acts as a reminder of the importance of having a fishing licence – and shows how seriously the courts take these offences. We hope the outcome will deter any angler who is thinking of fishing without a licence.
The yearly fishing licence Mr Hammond required would have cost just £30. Other types of licence are available, including one-day for £6, eight-day for £12, and a free one for those aged 12 to 16.
The money from licence sales supports fish, fisheries and fishing, and protects the future of angling. A small number of people refuse to buy one, cheating the sport and their fellow anglers.
For the minority who flout the rules, the most common offence is fishing without a valid licence, which could land them with a fine of up to £2,500 and a criminal record.
Last year in England, the Environment Agency checked more than 63,000 fishing licences and prosecuted 2,330 for rod and line offences, resulting in fines in excess of £335,000.
Any angler aged 12 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water needs a licence. They are available online via gov.uk or by calling the Environment Agency on 0344 800 5386.
Anyone with information about suspected illegal fishing activities can contact the Environment Agency Incident Hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
HA Chief Executive visits public hospitals to observe situation during holidays (with photos)
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) Chief Executive Dr Leung Pak-yin, accompanying the Secretary of Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, paid a visit today (February 19) to the Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments and wards of Ruttonjee and Tang Shiu Kin Hospitals, Princess Margaret Hospital and North District Hospital to understand from frontline staff the latest service situation and manpower arrangements during the extended Chinese New Year holidays.
Dr Leung expressed his heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the healthcare staff for their professional services during the holidays. He said, “It is expected that the public demand for A&E services will continue to rise, especially tomorrow which is the first working day following the extended holidays.” He appealed to the public to consider using the services of General Outpatient Clinics or private doctors. HA has continued to enhance the services of General Outpatient Clinics by adding another 1 000 service quotas in the coming four weeks to cope with the demand.
Dr Leung also pointed out that HA has deployed the additional funding from the Government to increase the flexibility, the tie with respective staff ranks and the rate of the Special Honorarium Scheme to encourage participation of staff from all disciplines and as a recognition of their efforts.
The Hospital Authority (HA) Chief Executive Dr Leung Pak-yin, accompanying the Secretary of Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, paid a visit today (February 19) to the Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments and wards of Ruttonjee and Tang Shiu Kin Hospitals, Princess Margaret Hospital and North District Hospital to understand from frontline staff the latest service situation and manpower arrangements during the extended Chinese New Year holidays.
Dr Leung expressed his heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the healthcare staff for their professional services during the holidays. He said, “It is expected that the public demand for A&E services will continue to rise, especially tomorrow which is the first working day following the extended holidays.” He appealed to the public to consider using the services of General Outpatient Clinics or private doctors. HA has continued to enhance the services of General Outpatient Clinics by adding another 1 000 service quotas in the coming four weeks to cope with the demand.
Dr Leung also pointed out that HA has deployed the additional funding from the Government to increase the flexibility, the tie with respective staff ranks and the rate of the Special Honorarium Scheme to encourage participation of staff from all disciplines and as a recognition of their efforts.