Frackers urge Whitehall: Fast track our plans August 10, 2015 Fracking companies yesterday urged the government to press forward with plans to fast-track their applications following an intervention by Amber Rudd, the energy secretary. Rudd’s colleague at the ministry, Andrea Leadsom, echoed the secretary of state’s support for fracking, telling City PM: “We are exploring ways to really kickstart the industry as we know it [...]
Top banks could face millions in new PPI claims over commission August 10, 2015 Britain’s top banks are facing further fall out from the mis-selling of payment protection insurance (PPI). The latest potential threat comes from a case brought by lecturer Susan Plevin, over a loan and PPI policy taken out in 2006. She was unaware that more than 70 per cent of the commission she paid on the [...]
Employers turn to graduates as skills shortages bite August 10, 2015 Businesses are turning more towards graduates and apprentices to fill their skills gaps, new survey figures reveal this morning. Apprentices are currently seen as the best way to fill skills gaps by 33 per cent of employers, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). It marks a climb on spring 2014’s 22 [...]
Philip Hammond says migrants hit EU living standards and demands clamp down on African immigration August 10, 2015 Foreign secretary Philip Hammond claimed yesterday that European living standards are at risk unless the continent clamps down on immigration from Africa. Speaking in Singapore, Hammond said: “So long as the European Union’s laws are the way they are, many of them will only have to set foot in Europe to be pretty confident that [...]
Bank executives fear regulation is harming the UK’s international competitiveness August 10, 2015 Tough regulation of the banking sector is harming the UK’s international competitiveness, according to a poll of executives published this morning. Thousands of pages of regulation were written up in response to the financial crisis, and new rules are constantly being added to them. But many of the rules are negatively affecting the UK’s global [...]
London house prices up 45pc in five years: Home movers put off as figures soar August 9, 2015 The number of people moving home is in decline, new figures out today show. Rising prices, which many attribute to a lack of house building, may be hindering people from moving up the rungs of the housing ladder, according to the study from Lloyds Bank. The number of home movers reached 155,000 in the first [...]
Hotels and restaurants lead the UK’s summer spending splurge August 9, 2015 Britons are splashing out more this summer, according to figures released today by a major card provider. Spending on hotels and restaurants was 8.6 per cent higher in July than in the same month last year, Visa said. Shoppers also spent 5.6 per cent more on recreation and culture. It took total spending growth (not [...]
Professional jobseekers spoiled for choice as competition for workers increases August 9, 2015 Professional workers are seeing more competition for their skills, a recruiter said today. Available candidates are being scooped up, with 22 per cent fewer jobseekers in July than in the same month last year, according to figures given exclusively to City PM by Robert Walters. Meanwhile, opportunities are on the rise with 9,585 vacancies in [...]
Decline in Brits abroad as holidaymakers opt to stay home this summer August 8, 2015 The UK economy is recovering and consumer confidence is increasing – but not enough to encourage the majority of people to holiday abroad this summer. Read more: Why taking a holiday is vital to productivity Less than half of people in the UK will travel to other countries this year, a reduction on the 56 per [...]
The UK is more positive than the US or Germany towards immigration, with 3 out of 10 saying migration benefits Britain August 7, 2015 Britons are more positive than most towards immigration, shows a new survey from Ipsos Mori on global attitudes towards migration, but the burden on the country’s public services remains a concern. Intensifying debate about border controls and rising migration levels, especially in the run-up to the general election, have done little to dampen public opinion [...]
