Shoppers feeling Brexit squeeze as supermarket prices rise 2.3%
The average UK household has lost £21.31 in the past three months as supermarket prices rise due to Brexit inflation, research by Kantar Worldpanel has found. read more
Politics
Use of chemical weapons by anyone cannot be tolerated – Thornberry
Emily Thornberry MP, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Minister, commenting on the suspected chemical attack in Syria, said:
“This was a shocking and barbaric attack, and our thoughts are with all the victims and their loved ones.
“The use of chemical weapons by anyone cannot be tolerated, as the Syrian government itself accepted when it joined the Chemical Weapons Convention, and there must be no impunity for those found responsible.”
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read moreTory Government is failing the victims of trafficking as statistics show rise – Abbott
Diane Abbott, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, responding to National Referral Mechanism statistics showing that child trafficking is rising, said,
“This Tory Government is failing the victims of trafficking.
“Recorded child trafficking has reached a record high, but these figures are still well below the Government’s own estimate. Meanwhile, decisions to provide support for victims have fallen to a record low.
“The Tories promised in their manifesto to tackle trafficking and child exploitation. Instead they have imposed even further cuts on the Border Force and police, the frontline in the fight against these horrific crimes.”
Ends
Notes to editor
1. Annual statistics on reports to the National Referral Mechanism show that in total there were 3,805 potential victims of trafficking in 2016; a 17% increase on 2015. However, child exploitation referrals rose by 30% to 1,278.
2. The figures also show that positive conclusive decisions — which enable victims to access support — decreased to 635, compared with 1,028 the previous year.
3. Full report – National Crime Agency, NRM End of Year Summary 2016, 29 March 2017,
read moreNews story: Evidence gathering to take place on UK plan to resolve RBS’ State aid commitment
The European Commission has formally confirmed that it will begin to gather evidence on the UK Government’s plan to resolve RBS’s State aid commitment.
The plan, first announced on 17 February, would see RBS fund and deliver a series of initiatives, worth around £750 million, to boost competition in today’s UK business banking market by helping small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) access and benefit from greater choice in the banking services available to them.
In parallel, HM Treasury has confirmed that it will carry out a market testing exercise, running for 4 weeks from 17 April. The market testing exercise will ensure that the new package is designed so that it increases competition in the business banking market significantly and works well operationally. As part of the exercise, the Treasury will seek views from parties impacted by the new package, including challenger banks, SME business representatives, and venture capital and fintech firms. Full details of the European Commission’s evidence gathering process, including timings of the consultation and further details of the proposed package, will be announced by the European Commission in the coming weeks.
Following the consultation and market testing exercises, the final proposal will be subject to the approval of the College of Commissioners.
read moreNews story: South West Water fined for Devon sewage spill
A blocked pipe meant bank holiday bathers had to avoid Dawlish waters. read more