Diberdayakan oleh Blogger.

Popular Posts Today

Energy: Big Six Profit From Switching Failure

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 18 Februari 2015 | 23.15

A competition inquiry into the energy market has found suppliers routinely charging loyal customers up to £234 more per year.

The Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) update on its continuing probe into the sector also contained criticism of the energy regulator's powers - as reported by Sky News on Tuesday evening - saying excessive regulation at Ofgem may be creating barriers to new market entrants.

The key finding in the CMA's updated Issues Statement for consumers concerned the power of switching supplier, with the regulator declaring that long-term customers - many deemed vulnerable - were paying a higher price for failing to move between energy companies.

It said 95% of dual fuel customers of the so-called big six suppliers could have saved an average of between £158 and £234 a year by switching.

It found British Gas, SSE, Scottish Power, E.ON, npower and EDF, earned 12% more from a customer on a standard - instead of fixed - dual fuel tariff.

The report stated: "The evidence that we have seen to date also suggests that the gross margins that the six large energy firms earn are higher for customers on the SVT (Standard Variable Tariff) than for those on non-standard tariffs over the last three years." 

While the Issues Statement does not contain any formal conclusions by the CMA, the ongoing designation of industry regulation as a key focus will embarrass Ofgem at a time when its leadership is under intense political pressure.

Labour has vowed to freeze prices for 20 months if it wins the General Election in May, a pledge which sparked fury among big six suppliers.

They recently cut standard gas tariffs by up to 5.1% in response to a 30% dip in wholesale prices but argue raw energy makes up less than 50% of a bill and they have to pay up to three years up front for their supplies.

They point to the growing cost of green levies and network costs.

Crucially for the big six suppliers, the CMA found that their average profit margin across gas and electricity was 3.3%, with gas being the more profitable of the two.

But the report questions whether the market is working for consumers as almost half of households have been with the same supplier for more than 10 years.

This week, the Government launched a campaign with the slogan "Power To Switch", which is designed to encourage consumers to shop around to find cheaper energy deals.

Provisional findings of the CMA's inquiry will be published in May.

It is expected to stop short of recommending that the big six firms split their generation and supply arms - as some critics have demanded - to give greater clarity on profits.

Energy UK, the industry body which speaks for suppliers, said: "The energy industry continues to support the work of the Competition and Markets Authority and has already introduced a range of voluntary measures, moving towards greater openness and transparency.

"Today is the next stage in the process with conclusions expected later this year.

The industry will review today's releases over the coming weeks with a view to engaging further with the investigation. Individual members will be able to contribute to the debate as the rest of the investigation progresses."


23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

River Search Continues For Missing Boy, 11

A major search for an 11-year-old boy who is believed to have fallen into a river in Wales is continuing "in hope".

Emergency services were alerted just before 4pm on Tuesday after the boy, who has not been identified, fell into the River Towy in the Tanerdy area of Carmarthen.

Police, firefighters, a coastguard rescue team, the Ferryside inshore lifeboat crew and an RAF Sea King rescue helicopter are all at the scene.

Inspector Eric Evans of Dyfed-Powys Police said around 50 people were involved.

He said officers were "fairly confident" the boy had gone into the water.

"We are conducting a thorough search of the area and following every lead in order to find him," he said.

"Our plan for today is to work more closely with other services who bring specialist skills and equipment in order to search the river.

"Searching a river is difficult with fast flowing water, tidal waters and dark pools."

The boy's family is being supported by officers.

A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokeswoman said the search resumed at first light.

She said: "We have coastguard rescue teams from Llansteffan, Tenby and Burry Port and the RAF rescue helicopter has been part of the search and rescue," she said.

Boats from the Mid Wales Fire and Rescue Service are also taking part, alongside an independent rescue crew from Ferryside.


23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tories Hit Back At 'Left-Wing' Bishops' Letter

By Jon Craig, Chief Political Correspondent

Church of England bishops have been attacked by Conservative MPs after publishing a letter claiming people feel detached from politics and calling for a "fresh moral vision of the kind of country we want to be".

In a 52-page letter, the bishops said "worrying and unfamiliar trends" were appearing in national life and there was a "growing appetite to exploit grievances, find scapegoats and create barriers between people and nations".

David Cameron said he welcomed the Church entering the political debate, but said the Government was helping people by creating jobs, cutting taxes and developing the economy.

The Prime Minister said: "I would say to the bishops, I hope they would welcome that because work does bring dignity, does bring self-reliance, it does enable people to provide for their families, it creates a stronger society as well as a stronger economy.

"And a welfare system that pays people to stay idle when they could work - that is not the sign of a strong economy or a strong or good society."

But Conservative backbenchers were much more critical. Thatcherite Conor Burns told Sky News the letter was "naive" in not taking into account the recession and the risk posed by countries like Iran.

He said: "It takes no account of the fact that we are still operating in a political climate where the Government and anybody who becomes the Government will have an enormous budget deficit.

"The amount of money the Government is bringing in versus the amount of money it is spending every year is still very large. The wish list that the bishops seem to have in the document couldn't be funded, even if everyone wanted it to be."

Outspoken MP Nadine Dorries said there was a "very definite left-wing leaning" to the intervention and the Church should stick to issues where people are "really seeking the church's voice", such as abortion.

"The Church is always silent when people are seeking its voice and yet seems to be very keen to dive in on political issues when actually no-one is asking it to," she said.

Launching the document, the Bishop of Norwich said it was intended to counter arguments that people should not bother to engage with politics and vote.

The Rt Rev Graham James said: "We're conscious that there are a number of voices around, probably the most famous of which is Russell Brand, telling people that they shouldn't bother with voting and shouldn't bother to exercise their hard-won democratic freedoms.

"I'm conscious just going around some of our youth groups and speaking to youth leaders that that has had a more profound effect than I had anticipated.

"And while one may think that the bishops of the Church of England don't quite have the sex appeal of Russell Brand, we think that we should counter it."

The bishops said the letter was "not a shopping list of policies we would like to see" but a "call for the new direction that we believe our political life ought to take".

The letter raises issues including the renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent, Britain's relationship with the European Union and the concept of the Living Wage.

The letter also states: "There is a deep contradiction in the attitudes of a society which celebrates equality in principle yet treats some people especially the poor and vulnerable, as unwanted, unvalued and unnoticed.

"It is particularly counter-productive to denigrate those who are in need because this undermines the wider social instinct to support one another in the community.

"For instance, when those who rely on social security payments are all described in terms that imply they are undeserving, dependent and ought to be self-sufficient, it deters others from offering the informal, neighbourly support which could ease some of the burden of the welfare state."

Calling for a stronger political vision, it states: "The different parties have failed to offer attractive visions of the kind of society and culture they wish to see, or distinctive goals they might pursue.

"Instead, we are subjected to sterile arguments about who might manage the existing system best."

The bishops back the concept of the Big Society, promoted by Mr Cameron in the 2010 general election campaign, stating that its ideals "should not be consigned to the political dustbin".

The letter also criticises language used in debates over immigration, but says: "We also challenge the assumption that to question immigration at all must always be racist".

It says: "The way we talk about migration, with ethnically identifiable communities being treated as 'the problem' has, deliberately or inadvertently, created an ugly undercurrent of racism in every debate about immigration."


23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Farah Lays Into Vernon In Twitter Rant

Mo Farah has labelled 5,000 and 10,000m rival Andy Vernon an "embarrassment" in an astonishing Twitter exchange between the British duo.

Farah took to social media to vent his anger after Vernon criticised the lack of high-level competition the 31-year-old will face on his seasonal debut at the Sainsbury's Indoor Grand Prix on Saturday.

"Another stellar field against Mo Farah on home turf this weekend at Birmingham. #joke," wrote Vernon.

Farah replied: "Shame you didn't make the line up....again #ComeBackWhenYouWinSomethingDecent"

Vernon, 29, responded: "Lol Mo Farah I think even you can work out that I can make the cut to the Indoor Grand Prix. Lets hope no one loses their shoe..."

The argument continued as Farah responded: "I wish you did make the cut mate so I can leave you in my dust like ALWAYS!! hahahaha #hatersgonnahate"

The exchange continued for an hour, with Vernon replying: "1) stop quoting Taylor Swift. 2) I don't hate you Mo. I would just rather watch a race than the the Mo Show. #playersgonnaplay."

At that point, Farah made his most stinging remark as he tweeted: "that's why they didn't put you in the race mate.. Cos you're an embarrassment!! Taylor Swift can probably run faster than you!"

Farah will be the star attraction at this weekend's meeting at the NIA Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham which also features European 100m champion James Dasaolu and European and Commonwealth 200m silver medallist Jodie Williams.


23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Wages Rise 2.4% As Inflation Eases Further

The latest official figures on wages show annual increases of 2.4% as the rate of inflation eases to 0.3%.

Details released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) highlight the improvement in pay versus rising prices - boosting the spending power of consumers following six years of pay growth lagging behind inflation.

The ONS said wage increases were mostly boosted by bonuses during 2014, with salaries excluding bonus payments rising 1.6% in the year to December.

The annual rate of inflation was measured at 0.5% in that month, slipping further to 0.3% in January.

Wider figures released by the ONS showed the UK jobless rate hit a new six-year low of 5.7% in the three months to December, down from the 5.8% recorded in the previous month.

Unemployment continued to fall, with the jobless total dipping by 97,000 in the quarter to 1.86 million - almost half a million down on a year ago.

Employment increased by 103,000 to almost 31 million, the highest since records began in 1971.

The number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance was cut by 38,600 in January to 823,000, the 27th consecutive monthly fall.

Long-term unemployment was also down, falling by 210,000 for those out of work for over a year, to 638,000.

The cost of living and wider economy have formed the battleground for the looming General Election in May.

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said: "With unemployment continuing to fall, wages rising, and a record number of people in work, it's clear that the Government's long-term economic plan to get the country back on track is working.

"The jobs-led recovery is changing people's lives for the better on a daily basis. We are getting people into work, making work pay, and in so doing we are ensuring a better future for Britain."

David Cameron said the employment and inflation figures were "a good double", telling workers during a visit to a West Sussex Rolls-Royce plant: "Since I became Prime Minister, we haven't solved or tackled all of unemployment, but we have got 1.85 million more people in work today than when I became Prime Minister.

"We've created effectively 1,000 jobs every day since this Government's been in office."

Labour argues that too many of the jobs are part time or zero hour contracts.

Shadow employment minister Stephen Timms said: "Today's fall in overall unemployment is welcome but five years of the Tories' failing plan has left working people £1,600 a year worse off since 2010.

"Low pay has left millions of working families struggling to make ends meet and has led to billions more spent on the housing benefit bill."


23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Teenager Re-Arrested Over Schoolboy Death

Police investigating the death of Oisin McGrath have re-arrested a 17-year-old on suspicion of manslaughter.

The teenager, a pupil at the same Enniskillen school as Oisin, was questioned by officers before being released on bail pending further enquiries.

The 13-year-old from Belcoo, County Fermanagh, died in hospital three days after an altercation at St Michael's College.

On medical advice, his parents decided to withdraw their teenage son's life support and donate his organs for transplant.

Father Seamus Quinn paid tribute to Oisin, a budding musician and sportsman, at his funeral on Sunday.

"He was forever smiling, a big wide happy grin etched on his face," he said.

"He was a natural, unaffected young lad, quiet and easy to be with, the kind of smile that drew the best out of you, whether you were young or old.

"Because of his parents' incredibly selfless and faith-based decision, Oisin's falling on the ground and dying like a grain of wheat has brought life to five other human beings."


23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Lloyds And RBS Face Repeat Of Cash Bonus Cap

By Mark Kleinman, City Editor

Cash bonuses at the UK's state-backed banking giants are to be restricted to £2000 for a sixth consecutive year as ministers seek to avert a public row over pay less than three months before the General Election.

Sky News understands that Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) have been in discussions with UK Financial Investments (UKFI), the agency which manages taxpayers' stakes in the two lenders, about their pay structures for 2014.

Both banks will report their annual results for last year in the second half of next week, with an improved financial performance offset by hundreds of millions of pounds in fines for market manipulation offences.

Ministers placed a cap on cash bonuses at the two institutions in the final few months of the last Labour government in 2010, and it has been repeated after an annual review in each subsequent year.

The Treasury is keen to minimise the damage that will be caused by Lloyds and RBS shelling out hundreds of millions of pounds in bonuses to staff with the election campaign just weeks away.

The continued restriction on payouts does not mean that each employee's bonus will have a £2000 ceiling; the figure relates only to the cash element, with the remainder paid out in shares and deferred over staggered periods lasting several years.

A number of other changes to bank remuneration have also come into effect, dictating the size and structure of bonus packages.

Reforms introduced by the European Banking Authority mean that variable pay is now capped at 100% of salaries, or twice that sum if shareholders have explicitly approved the move.

While Lloyds secured permission last year to pay bonuses at the higher threshold, RBS fought an unsuccessful private battle with the Treasury which culminated with it only being able to pay out bonuses equivalent to an employee's salary.

Almost all major banks operating in Europe have introduced so-called allowances to contend with the European cap.

These count towards fixed pay but can be adjusted on an annual or in some more cases more frequent basis, leading to a review by the EBA which may announce further restrictions on their payment in the coming weeks.

Since being bailed out by taxpayers in 2009, RBS has paid out close to £6.5bn in bonuses to staff, according to research by Sky News.

RBS remains 80%-owned by taxpayers, with little prospect of a sale at a level that would reap a profit for the Treasury.

Lloyds, which has historically had a much smaller investment banking operation than RBS, has paid out an estimated £2bn in bonuses during the same period.

The bank is 24.9%-owned by UK taxpayers.

Lloyds, RBS, UKFI and the Treasury declined to comment.


23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Video: Teenager Playing 'Chicken' Hit By Truck

A video has emerged of the moment a teenage boy playing 'chicken' was hit by a 40-ton truck.

The 14-year-old set off a fraction of a second behind his friend in a bid to run across the road before the vehicle reached them.

A dashboard camera captured the scene as it caught up with youngster and knocked him to the ground.

He is seen disappearing before rolling over several times in the road.

Amazingly the boy survived, limping off with just a badly-bruised ankle.

The collision happened on a country road on the A449 near Penkridge in Staffordshire.

The footage showed that the truck was travelling at 45mph - within the 60mph speed limit.

The truck driver immediately alerted police but was told no action would be taken as he was not to blame.

The maker of the vehicle video recorder, Smartwitness, said it had released the footage in order to make youngsters aware of the dangers of playing near traffic.

A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: "We received a call at 1pm on 26 October 2014, reporting a collision involving an HGV and a pedestrian on the A449 at Dunston.

"Officers attended the scene. A 14-year-old boy was taken to New Cross Hospital with minor injuries to his hand and knee.

"The incident was looked into and no further action was taken against any parties.

"We would advise people to exercise caution when crossing any road and if at all possible use a pedestrian crossing.

"If one is not available please cross only when it is safe to do so."


23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Fuel Leak As Ship Hits The Rocks Off Scotland

A container ship on its way to Norway has run aground off the Scottish coast and is leaking fuel.

An operation is under way to contain any risk of pollution and free Lysblink Seaways, which has nine people on board.

The alarm was raised at around 1.50am on Wednesday when the vessel became stuck off Kilchoan, north of the Isle of Mull, in the West Highlands.

The ship, thought to be carrying paper, did not refloat at high tide at 4.35am.

Tugs are expected to try to free the vessel and the Tobermory lifeboat is at the scene. So far, no-one has been reported injured.

A spokesman for the RNLI said: "Tobermory RNLI's volunteer crew launched the Severn class lifeboat, Elizabeth Fairlie Ramsey, shortly after 3am to go to the aid of the vessel which was hard aground on rocks close to the ferry slipway.

"On arriving at the scene, the lifeboat crew established that whilst the vessel had sustained damage and was taking on some water, it was not in imminent danger of sinking. There are no reports of any injuries to the crew."

The ship was travelling from Belfast to Skogn in Norway when it ran aground.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has sent emergency towing vessel Heracles to the scene.

It is expected to arrive at around 2am on Thursday.

The vessel's owners have appointed a salvage company and a commercial tug, which is thought to be heading to the area from Greenock, Inverclyde.

A MCA spokesperson told Sky News: "Counter pollution measures are in place as there is a small amount of fuel leaking from the vessel.

"Currently, there is a light sheen on the water's surface [measuring] two by two metres.

"An assessment will be made early this evening with regard to what course of action should be taken with regard to moving the vessel."


23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Race Row Chelsea Fans May Face Match Ban

Police are investigating whether any of the Chelsea fans who were filmed stopping a black man getting on a train in Paris can be banned from football.

The club has condemned the supporters' behaviour as "abhorrent" and said it will support any criminal action against them.

They are believed to have been travelling to the city's Parc des Princes stadium for a Champions League game against Paris Saint Germain.

The Metropolitan Police said it was aware of the incident and was working with the French authorities.

It said: "We will examine the footage with a view to seeing if we can apply for football banning orders, preventing people from travelling from future matches."

Footage on The Guardian's website shows the commuter trying to board a metro train at Richelieu-Drouot station in the French capital.

A group of supporters are seen shouting and gesturing at the man and chanting "Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea", before pushing him away as he tries to step into the carriage.

When the man attempts to get on the train again, he points to a space where he could stand but is pushed back as he steps forward.

The fans then chant: "We're racist, we're racist, and that's the way we like it."

The supporters are also heard chanting: "Where were you in World War Two?"

British expatriate Paul Nolan, who filmed the incident, said: "He was obviously completely shocked when they pushed him off.

"I don't think he realised who they were. He then tried to get on again and got pushed off a second time."

The club said it would take "the strongest possible" action if members are found to have been involved.

It said: "We will support any criminal action against those involved, and should evidence point to involvement of Chelsea season-ticket holders or members the club will take the strongest possible action against them, including banning orders."

A Chelsea fan at the scene defended the actions of the group, insisting they were chanting about club captain John Terry and that other passengers were also prevented from boarding the train.

Mitchell McCoy said: "I'm not in the video but I'm on the carriage. We got on the train and at the station where the man was trying to get on we stopped for a couple of minutes.

"He tried to get on and a few people were pushing him off because there wasn't much space. You couldn't move.

"People were saying it was because he was black. It's not true at all."

Mr McCoy, 17,  said the song was about Terry, who was banned for four matches by the Football Association for racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand in 2011.

The regulatory commission which ruled on the case stated that the Chelsea captain was "not a racist".

Kick It Out chairman Lord Ouseley condemned the fans' behaviour and said the anti-discrimination body would support any prosecutions.

Prime Minister David Cameron told LBC Radio: "This does look extremely disturbing and very worrying. It's obviously potentially a criminal offence and so I'm sure the French police will be looking at it very seriously."

UEFA, European football's governing body, also condemned the incident, but said it was out of its remit because it happened away from the stadium.

A French police spokesman said they had received no complaints.


23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More
techieblogger.com Techie Blogger Techie Blogger