[ad_1] Under the SFI, farmers can receive money for turning their arable and horticultural fields into bee friendly wildflower meadows, grassland or planting species that can feed winter birds. The scheme has proved so popular to struggling farmers that last month the government was forced to issue a crackdown, warning that growers could only take…
[ad_1] Mr Hollinrake wrote: “You will be aware of concerns being expressed by parliamentary colleagues about the £5 surcharge being applied, where a number of them have claimed that they have bought stamps from legitimate sources, but which have then been identified as counterfeit by your system. “I recognise that where fake stamps have been…
[ad_1] The NHS is to use Google’s autonomous drones to fly blood samples between London hospitals in an effort to speed up medical tests. Wing, the drone operator owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet, has been chosen to deliver high-priority samples between Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals in south London. The trial could start as…
[ad_1] The consultation is expected to include questions about a potential ban on the sale of phones to under-16s and the need for parental approval when teenagers download social media apps such as Facebook and Instagram. However, other more stringent proposals that were expected to feature in the consultation are now expected to be removed…
[ad_1] The swoop is also facing opposition from the CWU, which is instead calling for a “new ownership and governance model” for Royal Mail. Mr Kretinsky’s EP Group, which is expected to make a fresh offer ahead of a deadline of May 15 set under City takeover rules, has held meetings with union bosses in…
[ad_1] Royal Mail is pressuring regulators to approve plans for less frequent letter deliveries, as the company scrambles to fend off a £3.1bn takeover bid from a Czech billionaire. International Distributions Services (IDS), Royal Mail’s parent company, said foot-dragging by Ofcom had “held back” plans to modernise the company. Keith Williams, chairman of IDS, said:…
[ad_1] The Queen joked about members of her late father’s regiment’s capacity to drink beer during her first visit to their barracks since she was appointed as colonel-in-chief. The Royal Lancers carry a significant connection for Queen Camilla, 76, as her father Major Bruce Shand served with the 12th Lancers during the Second World War….
[ad_1] Apple has reportedly suspended production of vegan phone cases it started selling less than a year ago. The tech giant is said to have stopped making its FineWoven cases and watch straps following complaints that the £59 cases would become easily scratched and worn out. Apple introduced the material, a “microtwill” made up of…
[ad_1] Bosses are understood to be keen to emphasise that the postal service is at an inflection point as it pushes through a turnaround plan for its struggling letters business. Insiders pointed to the company’s strongest Christmas performance in four years, as well as an ongoing review by Ofcom into its regulatory requirement to deliver…
[ad_1] One whistleblower said they dealt with surcharges “on a case by case basis” and said colleagues would often not charge customers and let them have the post without paying the “silly” £5 fine. They added they had sympathy for revenue protection staff who they claim are “misidentifying” stamps because Royal Mail has cut resources…