General News
PCS: More than 200 UK jobs have been saved after a campaign by PCS union members forced government contractor Hewlett Packard to abandon plans to offshore work to India. The company wanted to ‘offshore’ the work, which involves the maintenance of the records of millions of people for the Department for Work and Pensions, and had started a process called the 'knowledge transfer'.
It was the first time a government contractor had proposed sending the live records of so many people overseas. Because of the data security issues, the plans were subject to approval by the DWP & the Cabinet Office.
IfL: The Institute for Learning has endorsed the recommendations outlined in the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education’s report of its inquiry into adult literacy in England, Work, Society and Lifelong Literacy.
ACE: Artsmark, the national award scheme to evaluate, celebrate & strengthen the arts offer for children & young people, has re-launched with a new online application system & broader remit to include further education colleges and youth justice settings.
All schools in England (including special schools & Pupil Referral Units) can apply and, for the first time, further education colleges & youth justice settings are now eligible to apply. The deadline for applications is 12 January 2012.
ACE: Arts Council England has opened applications for the revised Renaissance in the Regions major grants programme for regional museums. They have also published Culture, knowledge and understanding: great museums and libraries for everyone - the document which sets out how they will place museums & libraries at the heart of the organisation. Both moves come as part of the preparation for ACE assuming key responsibilities formerly held by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) from 1 October 2011.
CWDC: The Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) is pleased to announce the launch of its second national survey of practitioners who have attained Early Years Professionals Status (EYPS) - the 'gold standard' for the early years sector. All EYPs are encouraged to go on line & complete the Survey. The Survey will be live until Friday 28 October 2011.
DCMS: Plans for the Paralympic Torch Relay to lead the UK into the start of the London 2012 Paralympic Games on 29 August 2012 have been announced. The relay will involve separate flames being lit in 4 cities and will begin on 25 August 2012 in London, followed by flame lighting moments in the greater Belfast area, Edinburgh and Cardiff.
The flames will then be brought together at a special ceremony held at Stoke Mandeville, home of the Paralympic Movement, before being taken on a 24 hour relay to Stratford for the Opening Ceremony.
TfL: More than 150,000 drivers are now reaping the rewards of signing up to automatically pay the Congestion Charge. CC Auto Pay was introduced in January 2011 and provides a simple, easy way for drivers to automatically pay the Congestion Charge with customers getting a £1 discount from the £10 daily charge at the same time.
TfL: The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has confirmed that from January 2012 fares on London's Tubes, Buses, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and Trams will rise by an average of RPI + 2%, the assumption outlined in TfL's Business Plan in October 2009. Based on July's RPI figure of 5%, this represents an average 7% fare increase across TfL services & Oyster pay as you go.
FSA: Booths has withdrawn all date codes of its Caesar Salad due to incorrect allergen information on the packaging. The dressing contains fish from anchovy essence, which has not been mentioned on the label. This is a potential health risk for anyone who is allergic or sensitive to fish. The Food Standards Agency has issued an Allergy Alert. If you are allergic or sensitive to fish you are advised not to eat this product.
FSA: Tower Bakery is recalling 9 varieties of savoury product from Scotmid & Co-operative Stores because the products have been labelled with incorrect date codes. The Food Standards Agency has issued a Product Recall Information Notice.
EH: A detailed survey of every stone that makes up Stonehenge using the latest technology, including a new scanner on loan from Z+F UK that has never before been used on a heritage project in this country, has resulted in the most accurate digital model ever produced of the world famous monument.
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