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General News
HSE: A new national register of occupational safety consultants will be set up to help employers access good quality, proportionate advice, the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has confirmed. The Occupational Safety Consultants Register (OSCR) will go live in January 2011.
It will provide firms with details of consultants who have met the highest qualification standard of recognised professional bodies and who are bound by a code of conduct that requires them to only give advice which is sensible & proportionate. To be eligible to join the register, individual consultants will need to be either Chartered members of the safety bodies IOSH, CIEH or REHIS or a Fellow of the IIRSM.
BS: As an interim measure until the Government Hotel Programme launches in January 2011, reduced rates have been negotiated in a number of key locations.
These rates are available now until the programme goes live and can be accessed through the travel management companies (TMCs) on Buying Solutions framework agreements. It is estimated that adherence to this preferred hotel list collectively could save public sector organisations over £0.5m between now & the end of the year.
These rates are available now until the programme goes live and can be accessed through the travel management companies (TMCs) on Buying Solutions framework agreements. It is estimated that adherence to this preferred hotel list collectively could save public sector organisations over £0.5m between now & the end of the year.
For further details about the Q4 rates please contact your TMC. If you are not yet using a Buying Solutions travel framework agreement click here to find out more or contact BS: Travel on 0345 410 2222
ScotGov: A £400,000 software package to help farmers go greener & save money has been launched. Available free of charge, the PLANET Scotland software will enable farmers to input information about their fields & soils to generate information on recommended fertiliser levels.
PLANET (PlanningLand Application of Nutrients for Efficiency and the Environment) Scotland will help farmers produce individualised nutrient management plans and save money through more efficient fertiliser use. The software will also provide compliant record keeping for those farming in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones.
UNICEF: More than half of the West African state of Benin is now underwater following some of the worst flooding in history. UNICEF is responding to prevent malnutrition and the spread of water-related diseases.
The UN is appealing for £5.5m to help Benin in the areas of emergency water, hygiene & sanitation, nutrition, health and education. It will soon be issuing a Flash Appeal detailing the needs of each sector. Please donate to their Children's Emergency Fund to help children affected by natural disasters around the world.
HCA: The Cabinet Office has officially confirmed that the HCA will be retained as a smaller enabling & investment agency working for local communities, with a new regulatory role. CLG has also confirmed that the Tenants’ Services Authority will be wound down and that the HCA will take on the economic regulation of social housing.
FSA: Some Sokolów Home Black Pudding Sausage with a ‘use by’ date of 30 October 2010 has been recalled, because the product is contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The product is also sold under the name Grill Black Pudding Sausage. Listeria is a food bug that causes food poisoning.
The Food Standards Agency has issued a Product Recall Information Notice advising that 3 wholesalers in the Doncaster area are recalling the affected products.
Press release ~ One batch of Sokolow home black pudding sausage/grill black pudding sausage recalled due to listeria monocytogenes contamination ~ Product Recall Notice: Sokolow's home black pudding sausage/grill black pudding sausage
FSA: Marks & Spencer has withdrawn some of its own-brand Gluten Free Rich Fruit Cake, because the product contains wheat flour. The product label incorrectly mentions that the product is ‘made without wheat’ and is ‘gluten free’. This makes the product a possible health risk to anyone who is gluten intolerant or has an allergy to or intolerance of wheat. The Food Standards Agency has issued an Allergy Alert.
Press release ~ Marks & Spencer withdraws a batch of own brand Gluten Free Rich Fruit Cake due to packaging error
Press release ~ Marks & Spencer withdraws a batch of own brand Gluten Free Rich Fruit Cake due to packaging error
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