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Sep72023 by adminNo Comments

UK rejoins EU science research scheme Horizon

Science

Getty ImagesBy Jonathan AmosScience correspondentThe UK is to rejoin the EU's flagship scientific research scheme, Horizon, the government has announced.UK-based scientists and institutions will be able to apply for money from the £81bn (€95bn) fund from today. Associate membership had been agreed as part of the Brexit trade deal when the UK formally left the EU in 2020.However, the UK has been excluded from the scheme for the past three years because of a disagreement over the Northern Ireland Protocol.Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: "With a wealth of expertise and experience to bring to the global stage, we have delivered a deal that enables UK scientists to confidently take part in the world's largest research collaboration programme."We have worked with our EU partners to make sure th...

Mar272021 by adminNo Comments

Green Homes Grant scheme to insulate houses axed

Science

Getty ImagesA much-promoted grants programme to help UK householders insulate their homes is to be scrapped within days.The Green Homes Grant (GHG) reached just 10% of the 600,000 homes the chancellor promised would be improved.The scheme will be stopped on Wednesday and the cash allocated to a separate insulation fund run by councils.The £300m previously allocated for the GHG will now go into a programme administered by local authorities, targeted at lower income households.Don't raid home insulation scheme, MPs urge ministersGovernment home insulation programme criticisedGreen plan to upgrade homes was 'botched', say MPsSome 19 million homes in the UK need to be insulated or the emissions from gas boilers will wreck the UK's chances of achieving its climate change targets.But the GHG sch...

Mar22021 by adminNo Comments

Furlough support scheme to be extended until September

Business

Getty ImagesThe government is to announce it is extending the furlough scheme until the end of September in Wednesday's Budget. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the scheme - which pays 80% of workers' wages - would help millions through "the challenging months ahead".Some 600,000 more self-employed people will also be eligible for government help as access to grants is widened. Mr Sunak called the support schemes a "lifeline", but Labour said they should have been extended "months ago". There are currently about four million people who are using the coronavirus job retention scheme (CJRS) - or furlough - the highest level since last summer.The scheme has been credited for slowing the pace of job losses as tens of thousands of businesses remain shut, with nine million people furloughed at its pe...

Feb272021 by adminNo Comments

Government extends deadline for filing declarations under VsV scheme till Mar 31, payment till Apr 30

Finance

The government has extended the last date for availing of the direct tax Vivaad Se Vishwas dispute resolution scheme to March 31, 2021, from the earlier date of February 28. This is the fifth extension of the scheme. Those willing to settle their tax disputes under the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act can file their declarations till March 31 and pay the settled tax amount by April 30, 2021, the Central Board of Direct Taxes said in a notification Friday. “CBDT further extends the date for filing of declarations under the Vivaad Se Vishwas Act, 2020 to March 31, 2021. Date for payment without additional amount under VsV extended to 30th April, 2021,” the income tax department said in a Twitter post. So far 125,144 cases have opted for the scheme which is 24.5% of the entire long pending 510...

Feb272021 by adminNo Comments

Budget 2021: Rishi Sunak to inject £126m to boost traineeship scheme

Business

Getty ImagesChancellor Rishi Sunak is set to announce a £126m boost for traineeships in England in his Budget on Wednesday.The scheme will include a new "flexi-job" apprenticeship that will enable apprentices to work with a number of different employers in one sector.Unemployment is at its highest level in almost five years, with younger and typically lower-paid workers bearing the brunt of job losses.Mr Sunak said it was "vital" support continued to get people back into work.The chancellor's boost to existing apprenticeship and traineeship programmes will include playing up to double the current cash incentive to firms who take on an apprentice, regardless of age.It comes as a new government guarantee for low-deposit mortgages is announced as part of next week's measures. 'We'd just begun...