Points to Ponder

[Hugo]

What is RAAC and why is the concrete to blame for school buildings closing? Video shows how the material once hailed a wonder in the 1950s is now a deadly risk

I heard about it many years ago so why hasn't something been done before now?     If anyone has parked their car in the underground car park at Morrisons in Colwyn Bay,  have they looked up at the roof and seen what looks like the tell tale signs of a similar problem?


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12469183/what-raac-school-buildings-close-shut-concrete.html

[SteveH]

Out of the frying pan etc..................

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said people-smuggling should be treated "on a par" with terrorism, ahead of talks about a new security deal with Europe.

Sir Keir will seek a provisional agreement with the EU's policing body, Europol, for any future Labour government.

Any deal to return migrants may require accepting migrant quotas from the EU.

The government argued a returns policy could lead to the UK taking "100,000 illegal migrants" every year.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman wrote on X, formerly known on Twitter, that Sir Keir would "agree to make Britain the dumping ground for many of the millions of illegal migrants that Europe doesn't want".

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-66804798

[SteveH]

Brexit: Labour will seek re-write of deal, Starmer says.

The opposition leader told the Financial Times that the current deal, which is due for review in 2025, is "too thin".

Sir Keir was speaking at a conference of centre-left leaders in Montreal, Canada.

But he ruled out re-joining the customs union, the single market or the EU.

It remains unclear, however, if Brussels would be open to making major changes to the agreement, which was agreed by former Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2021.

A Conservative spokesman accused the Labour leader of changing his position, saying: "Three years ago he promised he wouldn't seek major changes to the UK's new relationship with the EU, but now his latest short term position is that he will.

"What price would Keir Starmer be prepared to pay to the EU for renegotiating our relationship?"     

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66839501

[Hugo]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-66855830

[Hugo]

Migrant hotel costs rise to ?8m a day, Home Office figures show     I still think that the information has been understated and is a lot higher with hidden costs




https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-66855830
[/quote]

[Hugo]

Serco, Mears win ?2.9 billion refugee housing contracts in Britain

Serco, Mears wouldn't be Tory sponsors by any chance,  would they?       At least corruption is alive and well in the UK, at least in one political party that is.


https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-serco-group-contract-idUKKCN1P216Z

[SteveH]

BBC LIVEBiggest untapped UK oil field, Rosebank, approved by regulators...9,370 viewing this page

Summary
The UK's largest untapped oil field has been approved by regulators

Rosebank, 80 miles west of Shetland, is estimated to contain 500 million barrels of oil

Last month 50 MPs and peers from all major parties said the oil field could produce 200m tonnes of carbon dioxide
But regulators said net zero considerations had been taken into account

The government welcomed the decision, saying it will raise billions of pounds and "make us more secure against tyrants like Putin"

But the Green Party called the decision "morally obscene" and a "climate crime"

live report / cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-66933804

[SteveH]

Update

The decision to approve drilling at a controversial UK oil field has been condemned by environmental campaigners but hailed by supporters as a big step in bolstering the UK's energy security.

Rosebank, off the Scottish coast, has been given the go ahead by regulators the North Sea Transition Authority.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it was the "right long-term decision" for securing oil supplies in the UK.

But critics said it would harm climate change targets and not reduce bills.

What is Rosebank?       more https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-66933832

[Hugo]

Sycamore Gap: Man in his 60s held after Hadrian's Wall tree cut down

What on earth makes people commit an act of mindless vandalism like that?     



https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-66966187

[SteveH]

Older part-time workers at record levels as many opt for 'glide into retirement'
The recent trend may represent a 'paradigm shift' in how we 'view work and retirement'

The number of over 50s in part-time work in the UK has reached 3.6 million, with figures hitting 'record levels' after a 'setback' during the pandemic, official data has shown. Dr Emily Andrews, the deputy director for work at the Centre for Ageing Better, said making part-time work more available is a 'great step' for employers that wish to 'realise the benefits' of hiring older people.

Dr Andrews said part-time jobs make the workplace 'accessible' to those with caring responsibilities or health conditions and make work 'more appealing' to those looking for 'variety in their life in the latter part of their career'. Rest Less, which advises older residents, said the figure has jumped by 12 per cent in the past two years, 26 per cent over the last ten years, and 56 per cent in 20 years.

cont https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/older-part-time-workers-at-record-levels-as-many-opt-for-glide-into-retirement/

[Hugo]

Home Office doesn't rule out housing asylum seekers at North Wales hotel despite planning rejection
Home Office minister said 'not currently progressing' with plans but it 'may change in the future'

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/home-office-doesnt-rule-out-27862787

[SteveH]

Parking crackdown looming in North Wales with higher prices and far fewer spaces
Making parking more difficult is a crucial lever if motorists are to ditch their cars for public transport

Among the lofty ambitions outlined in the 2021 Wales Transport Strategy was a commitment to introduce default 20mph speed limits. With that box ticked, the Welsh Government can now focus on even more challenging initiatives.

Many were conceived with decarbonisation in mind, and if implemented will invariably be unpopular with motorists. Road tolls, congestion charging, workplace levies...the list goes on. If Wales is to meet its ambitious carbon zero target by 2050, tough decisions are needed: scrapping the third Menai crossing and Deeside?s Red Route bypass was never going to be universally popular.

Full article https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/parking-crackdown-looming-north-wales-27909726

[SteveH]

The reasons migration is unlikely to fall below pre-Brexit figures
Experts say net migration to the UK will remain high until the end of the decade

Net migration to the UK is expected to remain relatively high post Brexit. Experts say figures will range between 250,000 to 350,000 annually, even by the end of this decade.

A forecast by the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford and the London School of Economics (LSE) said while the figures are predicted to drop from the recent record high, factors like the conflict in Ukraine and arrivals from Hong Kong are believed to have contributed to the current levels. Last year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated net migration at 606,000 people, causing concerns among some Cabinet ministers and Conservative MPs. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak termed the figure 'too high' earlier this year.

cont https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/the-reasons-migration-is-unlikely-to-fall-below-pre-brexit-figures/

[SteveH]

The government is set to confirm plans to end the use of 50 hotels to house migrants by January.

In March, the BBC learned around 400 hotels were being used to house record numbers of asylum seekers.

On Tuesday, Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick will announce plans to start terminating hotel contracts that are costing the taxpayer ?8m a day.

Ministers have frequently criticised the cost, promising to reduce the government's reliance on hotels.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67201589

[Hugo]

Perhaps the hotels could be used to temporary house UK residents who have been forced to evacuate their homes due to the recent flooding
There was a very sad case on BBC this morning about a family who had a terminally ill child and they had to evacuate their house due to flooding and there will be many more cases like that.
Many will not be able to return to their homes for weeks or months and they need our help now