Government World Magazine | Government related news stories and press releases

Mar82017

£600,000 fine for Council contractor after major burns to employer

The underground cabling at the scene of the incident

Gloucester Crown Court heard the 61-year-old man was working at the site on Eastgate Street on 29 May 2015. While trying to replace the traffic light pole he came into contact with a live underground cable which immediately gave him the electric shock and set him on fire. The man, who was an employee of another company asked by Amey to carry out the work, received burns to his to hands, arms, stomach, face, legs and chest.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that although this was the first time this particular group of individuals worked on an Amey project, Amey did not provide adequate information on the location of underground services in the area. The inquiry also found that Amey’s supervision of the work was not adequate, and it had not properly managed the risks from the underground services.

Amey LG Limited, of Edmund Halley Road, Oxford, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 25 (4) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. The company was fined £600,000 and ordered to pay costs of £15,498.

After the hearing HSE Principal Inspector Helena Tinton said: “This man suffered life changing injuries as a result of this incident. He’s not been able to return to work, he still can’t use his hands properly and has been left both physically and mentally scarred by what happened. Had Amey given adequate information to the team working on site, and had Amey ensured the work was properly planned and supervised, this incident could have been avoided.

“This case should act as a reminder to local authorities and their contractors of the risks of working underground and the danger of severe electric shocks.”

For further information please visit www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/underground.htm

Notes to Editors:

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice, promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. hse.gov.uk

More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/

HSE news releases are available at www.hse.gov.uk/press

Journalists should approach HSE press office with any queries on regional press releases.

Mar82017

John McDonnell responding to the Budget

GovWorldMagLabour

John McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, responding to the
Budget, said:

“Philip Hammond has used his first Budget to claw £2 billion in
tax on those self-employed who are on low and middle incomes. But he continued
to boast about the £70 billion worth of tax giveaways at the top announced by
his predecessor.

“Labour will oppose this unfair £2 billion sole traders tax on the
self-employed low and middle earners.

“Rather than provide the funding that would end a social care
crisis in which 1 million vulnerable people go without adequate care, or
calling an end to the state of emergency in our NHS, the Tories are doing next
to nothing and don’t seem to recognise the scale of the crisis they have
created.

“The Tory rigged economy continues for households in our country,
who face being £1,800 worse off by the end of the forecast period, and if you
are on the National Living Wage by the end of this parliament you face a 25p
per hour cut.

“This Budget does not address the problems created by seven years
of Tory failure, and it has failed the fairness test for women who will be hit by
a cuts in public services, and the national living wage.

“Instead of equipping our country for Brexit, he is building our
economy on sand, and the little he has announced today will mean we are less
prepared for the challenges we face outside of the EU.”

Ends

Mar82017

OBR figures show SNP oil assertions were “a tissue of lies”

GovWorldMagScottish Conservatives

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OBR figures show SNP oil assertions were “a tissue of lies”

8 Mar 2017

07 May 2011 MSP pictured in the garden lobby during the MSP registration session. Pic - Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament

The OBR has today cut its forecast for oil and gas receipts in its latest publication today.

Prior to the 2014 independence referendum, the SNP claimed it would receive revenues of up to £11.8 billion in 2017-18.

The OBR today estimates actual revenues for that year at £0.9 billion.

Estimated revenues for all the next four years have been revised down since the OBR’s last report in November.

Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Murdo Fraser said:

“These are troubling figures which only serve to reinforce the current fragility of Scotland’s oil and gas sector – and shows why the support announced by the UK Government today is so necessary.

“It also throws the SNP’s deception on oil prior to the independence referendum into stark relief.

“The SNP knew their oil forecasts were based on fantasy figures but they tried to fool people anyway. Their oil con has now been exposed for the tissue of lies it was.

“The head of Nicola Sturgeon’s Growth Commission, Andrew Wilson, has admitted this week that oil receipts were part of their spending plans, and not a bonus.

“Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney have gone into hiding over this scandal.

“They must now admit they were wrong, and spell out how they would fill Scotland’s £15bn deficit in the event we voted for independence.”

http://cdn.budgetresponsibility.org.uk/March2017EFO-231.pdf

Mar82017

BCC comments on OBR forecast

GovWorldMagBritish Chambers of Commerce

Commenting on the latest forecasts by the Office for Budget Responsibility, published today in conjunction with the Chancellor’s Spring Budget, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the BCC, said:

“The OBR’s latest forecasts provide a more optimistic assessment of the UK’s near-term economic prospects compared to the Autumn Statement in November, though still not as bright as this time last year.

“However, in our view the OBR is too bullish about the UK’s near-term growth prospects. We expect that inflation will be a greater challenge to the UK economy than the OBR currently predicts, with price growth overtaking pay growth this year. This is likely to squeeze consumer spending, a key driver of UK growth. The OBR forecast also confirms that UK economic growth is expected to remain unbalanced, with business investment and trade forecast to add little to overall growth over the next few years, and will continue to leave the UK vulnerable to external shocks.

“On the public finances, the OBR have confirmed that the stronger than anticipated growth over recent quarters has boosted tax revenues and delivered a marked improvement to the UK’s expected fiscal position. However, if economic conditions do become more challenging over the next few years than the OBR predicts, the UK’s ability to generate tax receipts will come under greater pressure. Over the long-term, more needs to be done to achieve a sustainable strengthening and broadening of the UK’s tax base, including greater support for firms looking to invest, recruit and grow their business.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) sits at the heart of a powerful network of 52 Accredited Chambers of Commerce across the UK, representing thousands of businesses of all sizes and within all sectors. Our Global Business Network connects exporters with nearly 40 markets around the world. For more information, visit: www.britishchambers.org.uk

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Orla Hennessy – Press and Communications Officer

020 7654 5813 / 07825746812

Mar82017

£350m budget bonanza for Scotland means no need for SNP tax hikes

GovWorldMagScottish Conservatives

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£350m budget bonanza for Scotland means no need for SNP tax hikes

8 Mar 2017

ruth4

The additional £350 million coming to Scotland as a result of today’s budget means the SNP does not need to hike people’s taxes, the Scottish Conservatives have said.

Thanks to decisions made by Chancellor Philip Hammond, Scotland will receive the extra cash through Barnett Consequentials, including an additional £100 million for this coming year alone.

That – together with extra funds finance secretary Derek Mackay found in his own budget dealings totalling more than £230 million – means the Scottish Government has significantly more money for 2017/18 than it previously thought.

Shadow finance secretary Murdo Fraser said that means there’s now no need for the SNP to make Scotland the highest-taxed part of the UK, and should relieve some of its cuts to public services too.

As part of today’s budget, Mr Hammond confirmed the personal allowance would increase to £12,500, which takes 113,000 people out of tax altogether in Scotland.

Fuel duty will be frozen for the seventh year on the trot, which could save the average driver £10 every time they fill up at the pump.

And more support was announced for the north east with the creation of an expert group to look at helping the oil and gas industry.

Scottish Conservative shadow finance secretary Murdo Fraser said:

“The Chancellor has struck the right balance in this budget – keeping money in reserve as we prepare to leave the EU, but at the same time handing a boost to the economy.

“For Scotland alone, his plans will deliver an extra £350 million for the SNP government to spend as it wishes over the coming years.

“The SNP’s double dose of local government cuts and income tax changes to penalise middle-earners is now utterly without justification.

“The simple truth is that, if it was focused on the day job, the SNP wouldn’t need to make Scotland the highest-taxed part of the UK.

“With even more spending power now at its disposal, a competent government could give taxpayers a break and find the cash to support social care and schools across Scotland.

“The question facing the SNP is this – if Philip Hammond can support public services while protecting family pay packets, why can’t Derek Mackay?”

Below are additional comments from Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, who was speaking at a Scottish Property Federation conference this afternoon:

“My message to the Scottish Government is this.

“As I said earlier, despite the Chancellor’s cautious approach on spending, his budget this afternoon means that the Scottish Government now has £350 million extra to spend over the coming years.

“That includes £100 million to spend in the next financial year alone.

“This is extra cash that the SNP had not planned for in its budget.

“With this extra money, the finance secretary’s claim that council cuts and tax rises are necessary has therefore been substantially eroded.

“So I hope that the SNP will use this extra resource to support councils which require it, and give taxpayers and businesses a break.

“We simply do not need to send out the message that higher taxes are necessary in Scotland.

“I urge the SNP to think again.”