WIREDGOV

General News

FSA:  Surya Foods has withdrawn all batch codes of some additional J.F. Mills products due to incorrect allergen labelling, following an earlier limited withdrawal. The products contain wheat flour, which isn’t listed on the label.  If you’re allergic or intolerant to wheat or gluten, don’t eat these products.  The Food Standards Agency has issued an updated Allergy Alert.

Press release & links

FSA:  Morrisons is recalling packs of its own-brand turkey breast with a 'use by' date of 27 April 2012. These packs should have been labelled with a 'use by' date of 27 March 2012.  If you have bought the product do not eat it.  The Food Standards Agency has issued a Product Recall Information Notice.

Press release & links

FSA:  Morrisons is recalling one date code of its own-brand honey & mustard ham because mustard is not mentioned in the allergen labelling box.  If you have an allergy or intolerance to mustard, don’t eat this product.  The Food Standards Agency has issued an Allergy Alert.

Press release & links

PCS:  In a consultation ballot held by the PCS union - representing more than half of all staff in the civil service and its related agencies - 90.5% of respondents rejected the government's proposals for a new pension scheme.

Press release & links

ACE:  New Art Exchange, in collaboration with technology providers Artfinder, has opened registration for the online Culture Cloud competition.  UK based artists can enter the competition by uploading 2 dimensional artworks to the project website before 4 May 2012.

Press release & links

ACE:  The Young Masters Art Prize is now open for entry submissions with 30 April 2012 announced as the deadline.  A £5,000 prize awaits the winner who, with those shortlisted, will be able to exhibit in projects throughout 2013.

Press release & links

OS:  Geographic information (GI) experts across the globe are being given an opportunity to gain professional recognition from Ordnance Survey under a new accreditation scheme.  The new professional accreditation programme will create a specialist network of GI experts who will work with the national mapping agency in supporting, and providing technical advice to government, commercial & international customers.

Press release & links

UKOC:  New research has shown that the UK has the strongest internet economy of any G20 country - with 13.5% of all purchases in the country being made online in 2010.  The country's 'internet economy' was worth £121bn - a huge £2,000 per person and research from PwC has shown that households can save between £500 - £1,500 a year just by being online.

Press release & links

TfL:  In line with the Mayor's goal to boost passenger numbers & improve services on the Thames, London River Services has now installed improvements at Tower Pier and Greenwich Pier.  Passenger numbers on the river have increased by 1m over the past 4 years, but the Mayor is committed to improving river services further.  Work is under way to increase pier capacity on the Thames by 20% and potentially open up the river to half a million more users by the end of 2012. 

Press release & links

WWF:  A primary school in Pontypridd, Wales will be kicking off the celebration for WWF’s Earth Hour on 31 March 2012 at 8.30pm.  Ysgol Evan James school entered a competition organised by WWF-UK, offering communities the chance to lead the switch off and win a £1,000 grant towards organising a special event on the night.

Press release & links

TfL:  More than 40% of traffic signals across London now 'self regulate', cutting disruption by up to nearly 20 per cent at upgraded junctions.

Press release & links

WAG:  The Environment Minister, John Griffiths, has announced that the Welsh Government will launch a badger vaccination project as part of its work to eradicate bovine TB from cattle in Wales.  The Minister made his decision after considering the Science Review that he commissioned last summer, and other evidence & advice provided to him.  The Minister also announced that he would not be implementing a cull of badgers within the Intensive Action Area.

Press release & links ~ Deputy Minister for Agriculture issues message to farmers 

ScotGov:  A mum whose teenage son saved the lives of 5 others after he died in a road accident has given her backing to a Scottish organ donation teaching pack.  To coincide with the pack's re-launch, specialist nurses for organ donation will visit 100 schools across the country over the next few weeks to present the pack to them and to take part in Q&A sessions with pupils.

Press release & links ~ Education pack

ScotGov:  Education Secretary for Education Michael Russell has announced confirmation that agreement has been reached with Educational Institute of (EIS) on a package of support for teachers to ensure that delivery of new qualifications under Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) remains on track.

Press release & links

FSA:  The Board of the Food Standards Agency has agreed to the lifting of the last of the ‘Mark & Release’ monitoring controls on sheep introduced in 1986 as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

Press release & links