Published 2 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing A national charity supporting children with disabilities says more than 90% of the families it helps are struggling to pay bills due to rising living costs. Half of carers looking after disabled youngsters have skipped meals in the past 12 months to cut back on spending, a survey by Family Fund suggests. A West Yorkshire family supported by the charity say they are "scared" they won't be able to afford winter heating. The government said it was helping families with disabled children. York-based Family Fund said many families with seriously ill or disabled children faced higher energy bills due to the need to power home medical equipment. Frequent GP or hospital appointments mean regular car journeys for many, including the family of 11-year-old Charlie, from Bingley in West Yorkshire. "We can't go on as … [Read more...] about Cost of living: Disability charity says carers are skipping meals
Cost 5 ton heat pump
Boris ‘jeopardising’ UK’s first gigafactory as ‘not a single penny’ of £100m fund received
'Bye Boris!' MPs shout at Johnson as PMQs stream is cut short Sign up HERE for science breakthroughs in health, business and more that matter SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Early this year, the Government had vowed to invest £100million in Britishvolt, a company that is currently building the UK’s first gigafactory in Northumberland. Through this project, the firm is set to create 3,000 jobs at the electric battery factory and over 5,000 in the associated supply chains. Despite construction work for the massive factory beginning in April, the Government has so far not upheld its promise to support the project, according to MP Ian Lavery of Wansbeck. Related articles Heat pumps scheme to hike bills by £100 a … [Read more...] about Boris ‘jeopardising’ UK’s first gigafactory as ‘not a single penny’ of £100m fund received
Pound slides to two-year low against the dollar
By Tom Espiner Published 2 hours ago comments Comments Share close Share page Copy link About sharing The pound has fallen to a two-year low against the dollar reflecting traders' increasing concerns about recession around the world as energy prices continue to soar. But sterling is also weak because markets are worried about future UK economic growth, analysts said. Sterling could fall even further after predictions of economic stagnation and as inflation rises, they added. London shares regained some ground on Wednesday following Tuesday's falls. The resignation of two senior government ministers on Tuesday evening, including former Chancellor Rishi Sunak, was not a significant factor in the pound's fall, Rabobank head currency strategist Jane Foley told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme. UK household energy bills to hit £3,000 per year Sunak … [Read more...] about Pound slides to two-year low against the dollar
Household energy bills to hit £3,000 per year
By Faisal Islam Published 6 hours ago comments Comments Share close Share page Copy link About sharing All types of household energy bill are now heading above £3,000 a year this winter, say energy industry sources. The rise is 7% higher than the predicted prices on which the government's recently announced cost of living support package was based. The government said it didn't recognise the figures, but added it and Ofgem "keep a close watch on energy prices". National Energy Action said there were "few signs of energy prices becoming affordable this winter". The bleak prediction comes as households are already struggling with rising food and fuel prices. Every UK household is to get an energy bill discount of £400 this October, whilst poorest households will also get a payment of £650. When will households get the £400 energy grant? … [Read more...] about Household energy bills to hit £3,000 per year
Four ways Nadhim Zahawi may try to boost the economy
Published 7 minutes ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Following the shock resignation of former Chancellor Rishi Sunak, his replacement Nadhim Zahawi has said he and Prime Minister Boris Johnson want to "rebuild the economy" and get soaring inflation under control. Mr Zahawi said "nothing is off the table" in terms of cutting taxes. What are some of the options open to the new Chancellor to make good on those plans? 1. Cut VAT Mr Zahawi has said he wants to do two things: cut taxes and "bear down" on inflation. Those are not usually happy bedfellows. Cutting taxes puts more money into the economy, which drives prices up - so how can he walk this line? A temporary cut in VAT - the tax paid when buying goods and services - from 20% to 17.5%, say, would lower the price of goods and services in the basket used to calculate inflation - taxes would get cut, and … [Read more...] about Four ways Nadhim Zahawi may try to boost the economy
Can growing lettuces in the cloud help feed the world?
By Tom Jackson Published 22 December 2015 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Since off-season cucumbers were grown under "transparent stone" - an early version of the greenhouse - for the Roman Emperor Tiberius, we've been trying to bend Mother Nature to our will. We've even learned how to grow plants without soil, feeding them directly with mineral nutrients in water, often under artificial light. Hydroponics - as this is called - has always remained a niche method of food production, but now the latest technologies are giving it a new lease of life. They're even trying it in space . Could this way of growing plants help feed our rapidly growing - and increasingly urbanising - global population? From semiconductors to spinach At its Aizu Wakamatsu factory in central Japan, tech firm Fujitsu is applying cloud-based data analytics to the production of … [Read more...] about Can growing lettuces in the cloud help feed the world?