Whitehall has unlocked up to £5.5 billion as part of a new nuclear power station subsidy scheme. The money is for “development expenditure” including enabling works at Sizewell C before a “final investment decision”, when the project’s backers decide whether or not to press ahead with it. A Department forContinue Reading
The FTSE 100 neared its record value before dipping to finish the day in the red on Friday. London’s blue-chip index fell 3.01 points, or 0.04%, to end the day at 8,376.63. It had climbed above 8,400 earlier in the day and neared May’s all-time closing high of 8,445 beforeContinue Reading
Business groups have called for caution over potential Labour plans to open up a “compressed hours” four-day work week to more of the workforce. Ben Willmott, head of public policy for the CIPD, the professional body for human resources, said the Government should “take stock” of recent rule changes aroundContinue Reading
Sales of Oasis’s back catalogue have surged by more than six times the number the previous week, amid huge demand ahead of their comeback concert tickets going on sale, according to HMV. The entertainment retailer said it also witnessed a jump in pre-orders for the band’s 30th anniversary edition ofContinue Reading
Barratt Developments is expected to report a fall in home completions, but profits just ahead of previous expectations, amid a week of financial updates from UK housebuilders. The company, which is Britain’s biggest housebuilder, reports its annual results on Wednesday September 4, with updates from Vistry and Berkeley Group inContinue Reading
The Government has denied it will force businesses to allow staff to work a four-day week but said it supports flexible working. Education minister Baroness Jacqui Smith dismissed a report in The Telegraph that Labour’s Make Work Pay plans could force businesses to accept employees’ demands for a four-day week.Continue Reading
The Government has “no plans” to force businesses to accept employees’ four-day working week requests. Conservative shadow business secretary Kevin Hollinrake claimed businesses were “petrified” about Labour’s Make Work Pay plans, which The Telegraph reported could include new rights for workers to demand a four-day week. But a Department forContinue Reading
A trade union in Scotland has scrapped plans for refuse workers to strike after members accepted a new offer. GMB Scotland said 78% of members voted to accept the offer from Cosla, which will see a minimum increase of 3.6% for staff. Unite the union and Unison also announced theyContinue Reading
A series of weekend strikes by train drivers on LNER have been called off. Members of Aslef were due to walk out on Saturday after the union claimed there had been a breakdown in industrial relations. More than 20 days of strikes were planned on weekends in the next fewContinue Reading
The FTSE 100 made gains on Thursday, led by a strong showing from hotels group Whitbread after an upgrade from City analysts. The blue-chip index rose 35.79 points, or 0.43%, to end the day at 8,379.64. On a subdued day for London markets, Whitbread got an upgrade from analysts atContinue Reading
