News Library
09 P2
New Digital Strategy
for Britain
Prime Minister
Gordon Brown said: "Digital Britain is about giving the
country the tools to succeed and lead the way in the economy
of the future.The report shows how we will ensure we have
a world-class digital and communications infrastructure, that
we promote and protect talent and innovation in our creative
industries, that we modernise our TV and radio frameworks
and support local news.
The Government are investing in areas such as broadband access
for every home and business and the move from analogue to
digital technology will bring benefits across the board, driving
growth, enabling businesses to thrive, and providing new opportunities
and choices for households right across the country. It is
an essential part of building Britain’s future
Scrappage Scheme A
Hit The
Government announced that within the first 2 weeks of the
scrappage scheme starting, more than 35,000 new cars were
ordered. According to Mr. Mandelson, all the car manufacturers
have signed up to the deal, as well as other companies.RFT
Express staff posed as potential buyers and found a vast difference
in what was on offer. Vauxhall tried to talk people out of
the scrappage scheme in favour of 6 and 12 month old vehicles.
Ford were indifferent offering the minimum. Peugeot and Citroen
came out tops offering up to £3,800 against new cars.
Problem was there were no vehicles available for at least
2 weeks.
For Peat's Sake
Environment
Secretary Hilary Benn today urged garden centres and retailers
to make it clear if compost they sell contains peat, to highlight
the damage its use does to wildlife and the environment.
Peat bogs are an important store of carbon emissions, but
peat dug up in Britain for garden compost
releases almost half a million tonnes of carbon dioxide a
year - the equivalent of 100,000 cars on the road.
Latest
Unemployment Figures Unemployment
grew in the UK during the first quarter of 2009 by 7.1% an
increase of 244,000 over the quarter and an increase by 592,000
over the year. The total unemployed stands at 2.22 million.
The total people in work is now 29.2 million of which over
3 million are self employed
DSA announces two-part
motorcycle test The
Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has announced a new two-part
motorcycle test, that will be introduced in April 2009
Driver Testing and
Training to be overhauled Transport
Secretary Ruth Kelly announced new
proposals to reform the way people learn to drive and how
they are tested. A foundation course in safe road use for
under 17 years olds will be piloted in schools and colleges
in Scotland from this Autumn. This will lead to a qualification
that will be available across Great Britain. According to
figures 1 in 5 new drivers have an accident within the first
six months, while 70% of young drivers report a near miss.
Newly qualified drivers and their passengers account for 1in
5 of all car deaths in Britain
Vehicle
‘Scrappage’ scheme The
new vehicle scrappage scheme is a voluntary scheme for motor
dealers and manufacturers. If your dealer agrees to participate
in the scheme from mid May, they will allow you £2000
off the price of a car or van up to 3.5t gross, as long as
you agree to them scrapping your vehicle
read more
Total
UK CO2 emissions = 542.6 million tonnes for 2007
Latest figures in the UK Transport
and Climate Change data factsheets - 26 March 2009, show that
in 2007 the UK produced over 540 million tonnes of CO2. Transport
producing 173.2 million tonnes of CO2.Of this 173 million
tonnes, private cars were responsible for 44.3%, HGVs were
responsible for 15.2%, and vans were responsible for 8.3%.The
Government use a ‘basket’ of six Green House Gases
consisting of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, sulphur
hexafluoride, perfluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons.
The provisional data for 2008 show CO2 emissions to be 531.8
million tonnes. read
more
From
28th March 2009 VOSA are to work 24/7
with new tri-axle trailers capable of doing roadside M.O,T.
type tests. These test will include testing the heat of your
brakes. Rumour has it that if you have a light out, it's going
to be a £90 on the spot fine.
The
increase in duty of 2p
a litre for diesel and petrol which
came into force on 01/12/08 and the planned increase of 1.84p
due on 01/04/09 will mean an increase in 4 months of 7.65%
from the pre December figure of 50.35 p.p.l to 54.19 ppl.
L.P.G. users will suffer a much higher percentage increase.
The price escalator comes back into force in April 2010
The increase in Vehicle Excise Duty, and the increase in National
insurance Contributions, will put more
pressure on struggling companies.
G20 London
summit: Leaders of
the G20 summit announce a range of initiatives in order to
sustain growth and jobs, along with other packages
Read
What Gordon Brown had to say
VOSA
and Police have new powers from 1st April 2009,
to take
a financial penalty deposit from any driver who cannot prove
UK residency, and failing to comply with UK laws, drivers
would have to provide a deposit of £300 for court costs.
Police and VOSA have powers to immobilise a vehicle.
SWIM
FOR FREE: From
1 April, appoximately 20 million children under 16 and people
over 60,will be able to enjoy free swimming at over a thousand
swimming pools across England.
Read
More from Direct Gov.
