The aviation industry will announce today that it intends to cut CO2 emissions by half by 2050 in a move that will force up air fares and spark a green technology race amongst aircraft manufacturers (Guardian; BBC Online).
A new set of sanctions against tax avoiders will be published in the forthcoming pre-Budget report. The Chancellor Alistair Darling will ask for new agreements with “tax havens” like Liechtenstein, which would allow HM Revenue and Customs access to off-shore accounts (Daily Telegraph; Independent).
The Prime Minister has said there will be no early end to the international stimulus package aimed at taking the world out of recession. Gordon Brown’s comments came are ahead of the summit of the world’s twenty leading economies in Pittsburgh later this week at which senior government sources hope America and Europe will reach a compromise deal for bankers’ bonuses (BBC Online).
103 construction companies have been fined by the Office for Fair Trading for cover pricing. Senior Director of the Office for Fair Trading, Simon Wiliams, said that “this decision sends a strong message that anti-competitive and illegal practices, including cover price, must cease” (Daily Telegraph).
Property experts yesterday criticised plans by the Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor to introduce an annual levy on homes worth more than £1 million, arguing that Vince Cable’s proposals would lay waste to an already fragile housing market and unfairly punish the South East. Speaking at the Liberal Democrat Party conference, Vince Cable also called for the creation of a British Investment Bank which would gather private capital and professional management under government sponsorship (Daily Telegraph; City A.M.).
Dr Kailash Chand, a practising GP of 25 years, BMA representative and NHS Trust Chairman has argued that fat people should be made to take more responsibility for their health and have their perks taken away from them. Dr Chand also argued that fattening foods should be taxed, estimating that 50 to 70 per cent of his patients’ medical costs could be reduced, even eliminated, if their diets were healthier (Express).
As many as one in six patients treated in NHS hospitals and GP surgeries are being misdiagnosed (Telegraph).
Student leaders have said that both the Conservatives and Labour have been avoiding clearly expressing their opinions over the tuition fees issue. The NUS President, Wes Streeting, declared that politicians “have been engaged in a cosy consensus of silence on tuition fees” (FT; Daily Telegraph).
The creation of neighbourhood task teams in Kent to tackle antisocial behaviour and low level offending has been linked to a massive reduction in crime and fear of crime. Reported offences fell by 18.7 per cent or 5,714 offences compared to last year (Guardian).
Describing the Conservative’s law and order record as a “disgrace”, the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, Chris Huhne, will today warn that a new Conservative administration would mean soaring numbers of offences (Mirror).
After a trial reported success in tackling street crime, Justice Secretary, Jack Straw, has suggested that prescribing heroin on the NHS may be the only way to deal with some users (BBC Online).
A Guardian/ICM poll has revealed that an overwhelming majority of voters do not trust Labour to tell the truth about finances and public spending. Only 14 per cent believe that Gordon Brown is telling the truth about the UK’s financial situation (FT; Guardian).
Attorney General Baroness Scotland is expected to pay a fine of up to £10,000 for employing an illegal immigrant (Daily Mail).