General News
TUC: Government assurances that changes to public sector pensions will not hit low-paid public sector workers earning less than £15,000 a year are misleading, said the TUC last week as it published figures showing that more than 750,000 earning less than this - the overwhelming majority of whom are women - will have to pay higher contributions.
This is because the government measures workers' income by looking at their full-time equivalent pay, not their actual pay. Someone working half-time on £14,000 a year is considered to be earning £28,000 by ministers.
The TUC research shows that 806,000 public sector part-time workers earn less than £15,000 but have full-time equivalent earnings of more than this and will therefore have to pay the increase in contributions being demanded by ministers.
The TUC research shows that 806,000 public sector part-time workers earn less than £15,000 but have full-time equivalent earnings of more than this and will therefore have to pay the increase in contributions being demanded by ministers.
FSA: The Food Standards Agency is advising people not to consume specific jars of Loyd Grossman Korma sauce. This is because of the risk of botulism poisoning.
FSA: Food Standards Agency UK and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) are calling for papers to be presented at the Eighth International Conference on Social Science Methodology in Sydney from 9 to 13 July 2012. The deadline for submitting abstracts is 1 December 2011.
DSTL: A key mechanism by which a bacterial pathogen causes the deadly tropical disease melioidosis has been discovered by an international team of scientists.
DCMS: The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has awarded London the right to host the World Athletics Championships in 2017.
OS: Digimap for Schools is celebrating its first birthday with a new free mystery map challenge allowing pupils to identify hidden locations using key geographic information.
MO: The Met Office has launched a new weather service for airport operators. It enables airports to plan important tasks, such as airport maintenance, up to 15 days ahead.
FSA: The Food Standards Agency has been notified that meat has entered the food supply from a bullock aged over 72 months that had not been tested for BSE.
FDA: In a ballot turnout of 54%, FDA members have voted decisively in favour of industrial action, in the current dispute over the Government's plans to reform public sector pension arrangements.
TUC: Remuneration reports drew the greatest opposition from institutional investors yet bank remuneration reports were widely supported, according to the latest TUC fund manager voting survey published recently.
FSA: Brodie Clark last week issued his written statement to the Home Affairs Committee.
CO: Students who have designed revolutionary applications using government data have received awards from the Prime Minister at Downing Street.