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PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION > NATURAL GAS - 27 MARCH 2009
Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and ClimateChange what proportion of natural gas used in the UK in 2008 came from(a) UK Continental Shelf production, (b) imports from Norway, (c)imports from the Russian Federation and (d) other sources.Mr. Mike O'Brien: Provisional data for 2008 show that the UK’s grossdemand (including exports) for natural gas was sourced as follows: (a)Net production of natural gas from the UK Continental Shelf, 65 percent., (b) from Norway, 25 per cent., (c) from the Russian Federation,negligible, and (d) from other sources, 10 per cent. (8 per cent. fromthe Netherlands).Monthly imports and exports of natural gas by country are published inEnergy Trends Table 4.3 on the DECC/BERR website at this addresshttp://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/energy/statistics/source/gas/page18525.html.
EXTRA HOLIDAY - 26 MARCH 2009
The entitlement to statutory holiday under the Working Time Regulations increases from 4.8 to 5.6 weeks from 1 April 2009.
For those working a 5-day week, that represent an increase from 24 days to 28 days. There is no additional statutory right to Bank Holidays.
The Directgov website has a link to a holiday calculator as well as details of rights for part-timers — follow the second link below.
www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/employment/holidays/index.html
www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/Timeoffandholidays/DG_10034642
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION RE GAS SUPPLIES - 24 MARCH 2009
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to improve the security of gas supply from non-EU sources.
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The UK sees diversity of sources of imported gas as vital for the EU's security of energy supply. Recent events have underlined the importance to the EU of being supplied with gas from a wide range of countries. The development of a southern corridor, with the aim of bringing gas to the EU from the Caspian region through Turkey or directly across the Black Sea, and in the longer term from the Middle East, is crucial to that end. The UK therefore strongly supports the efforts of the European Commission and fellow EU Member States to develop a southern corridor and this Department is actively engaged in these efforts.
The Commission's second Strategic Energy Review (SEER2) of November 2008 affirmed the importance of a southern corridor as one of the EU's highest energy priorities and the importance, to that end, of increasing high level political engagement with potential gas supplier countries, such as Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Iraq. The European Commission and current Czech presidency of the EU have made this a priority for 2009 and we are working closely with them.
The UK also sees it as important for there to be a diverse selection of routes for gas to enter the EU and for this reason we support the building of new pipelines, under market conditions, to bring gas from established suppliers to the EU such as Norway, Russia and Algeria. In addition to pipelines, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), imported by tanker from countries such as Qatar, Trinidad and Tobago, Egypt, Algeria and Nigeria, also plays an important role in diversifying gas supply to the UK and other EU member states.
The UK's own security of gas supply has been improved in recent years by new import infrastructure projects such as the BBL (Netherlands-UK) and Langeled (from Norway) pipelines, expansion of the (Belgium-UK) IUK pipeline and the new LNG import terminal at the Isle of Grain. Two further major LNG import terminals at Milford Haven are expected to be commissioned soon.
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The UK sees diversity of sources of imported gas as vital for the EU's security of energy supply. Recent events have underlined the importance to the EU of being supplied with gas from a wide range of countries. The development of a southern corridor, with the aim of bringing gas to the EU from the Caspian region through Turkey or directly across the Black Sea, and in the longer term from the Middle East, is crucial to that end. The UK therefore strongly supports the efforts of the European Commission and fellow EU Member States to develop a southern corridor and this Department is actively engaged in these efforts.
The Commission's second Strategic Energy Review (SEER2) of November 2008 affirmed the importance of a southern corridor as one of the EU's highest energy priorities and the importance, to that end, of increasing high level political engagement with potential gas supplier countries, such as Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Iraq. The European Commission and current Czech presidency of the EU have made this a priority for 2009 and we are working closely with them.
The UK also sees it as important for there to be a diverse selection of routes for gas to enter the EU and for this reason we support the building of new pipelines, under market conditions, to bring gas from established suppliers to the EU such as Norway, Russia and Algeria. In addition to pipelines, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), imported by tanker from countries such as Qatar, Trinidad and Tobago, Egypt, Algeria and Nigeria, also plays an important role in diversifying gas supply to the UK and other EU member states.
The UK's own security of gas supply has been improved in recent years by new import infrastructure projects such as the BBL (Netherlands-UK) and Langeled (from Norway) pipelines, expansion of the (Belgium-UK) IUK pipeline and the new LNG import terminal at the Isle of Grain. Two further major LNG import terminals at Milford Haven are expected to be commissioned soon.
UNEMPLOYMENT HITS 2 MILLION - 20 MARCH 2009
Unemployment has passed the two million mark for the first time since 1997, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Under the Labour Force Survey (LFS) count, unemployment rose by 165,000 to 2.03 million in the three months to January 2009 against 1.86 million in the previous three-month period.
The increase in numbers helped push the unemployment rate up to 6.5% up from 6.0%. The LFS count includes people who are looking for work but not eligible for benefits and is the government’s preferred measure.
The number of jobless men rose by 113,000 to 1.22 million and their unemployment rate was up to 7.1% from 6.5%. Unemployment among women rose by 52,000 to 811,000 and their unemployment rate went up to 5.6% from 5.3%.
Unemployment under the claimant count recorded the biggest monthly increase since comparable records began in 1971. It recorded its 13th consecutive monthly rise in February, rising by 138,400 to 1.39 million. The unemployment rate under this count was up to 4.3% from 3.9% the previous month.
Unemployed men on benefit numbered 918,000 and the unemployment rate was up to 5.3% from 5.0%.
The number of jobless women was up to 315,000 and their jobless rate rose to 2.1% from 2.0%.
Other official figures add to the gloomy picture.In the three months to January, the number of people made redundant was 266,000 — up 86,000 on the previous thee-month period and 148,000 on a year earlier.
Manufacturing lost 120,000 jobs in the three months ending January on a year earlier, and employment in the sector was down to 2.78 million.
And the jobs market gets tighter. There were 482,000 vacancies in the three months to February — down 74,000 on the previous three months and down 203,000 on a year earlier. There are now about three claimants for every notified vacancy.
Regions The claimant count rose in all 12 regions and countries. The biggest increases were in the South East (18,000), London (16,700) and the West Midlands (15,700).
The unemployment rate was above the UK average of 4.3% in seven regions.
The highest rates were 6.3% in the North East, 5.8% in the West Midlands and 5.2% in Yorkshire and the Humber.
The LFS count rose in all but one region – London bucked the trend with a small fall. The biggest rises were in the West Midlands and the East (29,000 each) and the East Midlands (20,000).
The unemployment rate was above the UK average of 6.5% in six regions. The highest rates were 8.6% in the North East, 7.9% in the West Midlands and
7.7% in the North West.
Under the Labour Force Survey (LFS) count, unemployment rose by 165,000 to 2.03 million in the three months to January 2009 against 1.86 million in the previous three-month period.
The increase in numbers helped push the unemployment rate up to 6.5% up from 6.0%. The LFS count includes people who are looking for work but not eligible for benefits and is the government’s preferred measure.
The number of jobless men rose by 113,000 to 1.22 million and their unemployment rate was up to 7.1% from 6.5%. Unemployment among women rose by 52,000 to 811,000 and their unemployment rate went up to 5.6% from 5.3%.
Unemployment under the claimant count recorded the biggest monthly increase since comparable records began in 1971. It recorded its 13th consecutive monthly rise in February, rising by 138,400 to 1.39 million. The unemployment rate under this count was up to 4.3% from 3.9% the previous month.
Unemployed men on benefit numbered 918,000 and the unemployment rate was up to 5.3% from 5.0%.
The number of jobless women was up to 315,000 and their jobless rate rose to 2.1% from 2.0%.
Other official figures add to the gloomy picture.In the three months to January, the number of people made redundant was 266,000 — up 86,000 on the previous thee-month period and 148,000 on a year earlier.
Manufacturing lost 120,000 jobs in the three months ending January on a year earlier, and employment in the sector was down to 2.78 million.
And the jobs market gets tighter. There were 482,000 vacancies in the three months to February — down 74,000 on the previous three months and down 203,000 on a year earlier. There are now about three claimants for every notified vacancy.
Regions The claimant count rose in all 12 regions and countries. The biggest increases were in the South East (18,000), London (16,700) and the West Midlands (15,700).
The unemployment rate was above the UK average of 4.3% in seven regions.
The highest rates were 6.3% in the North East, 5.8% in the West Midlands and 5.2% in Yorkshire and the Humber.
The LFS count rose in all but one region – London bucked the trend with a small fall. The biggest rises were in the West Midlands and the East (29,000 each) and the East Midlands (20,000).
The unemployment rate was above the UK average of 6.5% in six regions. The highest rates were 8.6% in the North East, 7.9% in the West Midlands and
7.7% in the North West.
FIRMS USED USED ILLEGAL DATA BASE TO BLACKLIST BUILDING WORKERS - 06 MARCH 2009
A list of major companies alleged to have broken data protection laws by paying for information on their employees is expected to be published.
The 40-plus firms face legal action after the revelation by the Information Commissioner, The Guardian said.
It follows an investigation by the commissioner's office amid fears that thousands of workers in the construction industry have been treated unfairly.
The commissioner claims that the building firms covertly bought details of trade union activities and their conduct at work "over many years" from a private investigator.
The information was then allegedly used to "blacklist" workers and stop them from getting work.
David Smith, the deputy information commissioner, told The Guardian: "This is a serious breach of the Data Protection Act. Not only was personal information held on individuals without their knowledge or consent, but the very existence of the database was repeatedly denied.
"Trading people's personal details in this way is unlawful and we are determined to stamp out this type of activity."
Construction workers have repeatedly claimed that they have been stopped from getting work after being blacklisted for suspected union activities. The industry has always denied the claims.
Last Updated: Friday, 6 March 2009, 10:58 GMT
The 40-plus firms face legal action after the revelation by the Information Commissioner, The Guardian said.
It follows an investigation by the commissioner's office amid fears that thousands of workers in the construction industry have been treated unfairly.
The commissioner claims that the building firms covertly bought details of trade union activities and their conduct at work "over many years" from a private investigator.
The information was then allegedly used to "blacklist" workers and stop them from getting work.
David Smith, the deputy information commissioner, told The Guardian: "This is a serious breach of the Data Protection Act. Not only was personal information held on individuals without their knowledge or consent, but the very existence of the database was repeatedly denied.
"Trading people's personal details in this way is unlawful and we are determined to stamp out this type of activity."
Construction workers have repeatedly claimed that they have been stopped from getting work after being blacklisted for suspected union activities. The industry has always denied the claims.
Last Updated: Friday, 6 March 2009, 10:58 GMT
These cuts are the pits
Hundreds of thousands of retired miners and their widows face pension cuts because the Government is imposing miserly new rules.
Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith wants private pensions to rise in line with the Consumer Prices Index rather than the Retail Prices Index. It doesn’t soun
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Fraud 'a cover for hurting the poor'
Trade unionists have accused David Cameron of using benefit fraud as "cover for swingeing cuts to genuine claimants."
Speaking last week Mr Cameron described benefit fraud and error as "the one area of ingrained waste that outranks all others."
However the TUC said that, while all fraud should b
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These cuts won't hurt a bit. Unless you're young or poor
This is only the appetiser, not even the first course, just the amuse-bouche to whet the appetite. With a hint of lip-smacking relish for the coming cuts, George Osborne and David Laws today sharpened their knives. There were no expressions of regret, not even a crocodile tear or two for the real
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INDIA' RELIANCE ON COAL
India claimed to be a front-runner among developing nations for emissions disclosure today with its first national survey of greenhouse gases in more than a decade.
The government study based on 2007 data showed a sharp increase in industrial activity since the last assessment in 1994 has made Indi
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