HSE is consulting on revised regulations to replace the Freight Containers (Safety Convention) Regulations 1984, known as ‘the Regulations’ within this document, in order to give effect to the amendments to the International Convention for Safe Containers 1972, known as ‘the CSC’ within this document. The CSC is an international treaty that was ratified by the UK in 1978.  In ratifying the treaty the UK became bound by its terms in accordance with international law. This Consultative Document sets out proposals from HSE to replace the Freight Containers (Safety Convention) Regulations 1984 to give effect to amendments made to the International Convention for Safe Containers 1972.  In response to feedback received during the first public consultation held between 18 January and 25 February 2016 HSE made changes to the original proposal and now proposes to introduce a new set of regulations known as the Freight Containers (Safety Convention) Regulations 2017.  The aim of this consultation is to seek views on the changes. Consultation began on 17 October 2016 and ends on 14 November 2016. View the consultative document. Respond to the consultation using the online questionnaire or download a Word form. Our preference is for responses to be in electronic format but alternatively, you can submit your response by post by 26 February 2016 to: Transportation Policy Team Health and Safety Executive 5.3. Redgrave Court Merton Road Bootle Merseyside L20 7HS Email: FCSCreview@hse.gov.uk Source link

 In December 2015, John Swinney delivered “Scotland’s Spending Plans and Draft Budget 2016 / 17”, and whilst most of the media attention focused on potential changes to the Scottish rate of income tax, the Finance Minister also included less well publicised reforms to empty property rates relief, particularly the treatment of industrial property.   Previously, vacant industrial property had benefitted from 100% rates relief for the duration of any void period.  From 1st April 2016, the Scottish Government reduced this period of 100% relief to three months and thereafter, 10% relief.  Further minor changes to commercial (non-industrial) property were also introduced, summarised in the table below.      Vacant Commercial (excl. Industrial) Vacant Industrial Current Relief 100% relief for 3 months; 10% relief thereafter. 100% relief for duration of void period Proposed Relief 50% relief for 3 months; 10% relief thereafter. 100% relief for 3 months; 10% relief thereafter.   The introduction of these reforms has a significant impact on the industrial property market and with the very short lead-in period, industrial investors have had  limited time to take any action.  Outside of Scotland’s prime industrial areas, vacancy rates remain relatively high and this is reflective of the oversupply of available accommodation and the lack of occupational demand.  Since the implementation of these changes, there has not be enough time to see any evidence of the market’s reaction.  However, we anticipate that a number of negative outcomes could likely arise from this policy: • Speculative development or redevelopment / regeneration projects could not go ahead as the associated holding costs of industrial property will result in considerable risk. • Investor demand for industrial property is likely to be reduced as the risks of ownership will have increased.  For larger multi-let industrial estates, the increased shortfalls on vacant units will erode the net rental income generated by the estate and will reduce the value and marketability of these assets.  In addition, the reduction in net rent will impact on investors ability to service the debt repayments on any assets.  • For some industrial landlord’s of dated stock in poorer locations, the likelihood of long term voids is very real and rather than be faced with vacant rates liability, could deem it financially prudent to demolish the property or render them incapable of beneficial occupation.  The Scottish Government has proposed these changes as it concedes the system is not raising as much revenue as hoped.  However, we would question whether this change in policy will have the desired effect and Savills would suggest the likely knock on effects will be detrimental and reduce the level of investment in the Scottish industrial property market.    Source link

©Bloomberg A labour dispute involving workers on Royal Dutch Shell platforms in the North Sea has moved closer to resolution after Wood Group, the oil services provider, reached provisional agreement with unions on a compromise deal. Maintenance workers employed by Wood Group held a series of stoppages on Shell platforms over the summer in the first significant strike by North Sea workers for almost 30 years. More On this topic IN Oil & Gas The dispute, over pay and conditions, highlighted rising labour tensions in the UK offshore energy industry as companies look for cost savings in the face of protractedly low oil and gas prices. Wood Group said on Tuesday it had drawn up a “mutually agreeable proposal” with union representatives that was in “the best interests of all parties”. The deal would be put to a ballot of members by the Unite and RMT unions next week, it added. The dispute has been closely watched as a test of the industry’s ability to reduce labour costs in the North Sea, as well as unions’ appetite to resist cuts. A spokesman for Unite said the deal was “the best that can be achieved in the current circumstances”. Neither side would reveal details of the agreement. Wood Group employees working on Shell platforms had faced an average 3 per cent pay cut under original proposals that prompted the dispute. Unions claimed that some people would see earnings fall by 30 per cent when benefits were included. “The new proposal recognises the skills, flexibility and capabilities of the incumbent offshore workforce, the challenges facing the industry and demonstrates collective leadership in shaping the future of the North Sea,” said Wood Group in a statement. Paul Goodfellow, head of UK upstream operations for Shell, said: “Shell is pleased with this proposal and looks forward to working with Wood Group, Unite and the RMT to ensure that the North Sea remains competitive.” Industry leaders say changes in working practices are unavoidable if the North Sea basin is to survive in an era of low oil prices and declining production. Unions say workers are being asked to bear a disproportionate share of the pain. By the end of this year, the number of oil and gas jobs in the UK is forecast to have fallen 8,000 from its peak of 41,700 in 2014, according to the industry group Oil & Gas UK. When support jobs are included, the number is expected to have fallen from 453,800 to 330,400 — a loss of more than 120,000. The brunt of the decline has been felt in Aberdeen, capital of the UK oil industry and home of Wood Group. Figures from oilandgaspeople.com, a recruitment site, show that average pay for an offshore worker has fallen from about £80,000 a year in 2014 to £62,000. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2016. You may share using our article tools. Please don’t cut articles from FT.com and redistribute by email or post to the web. Source link

1 July 2016 | James Richards Food waste and loss is costing the global economy around $990 billion annually, according to the European Council. At a meeting of its general secretariat, the council highlighted the enormous economic, social and environmental consequences of food waste, which it said amounted to 1.3 billion tonnes a year. Summarising recent initiatives and research in the area, the council presented a range of recommendations for member states and the European Commission. It found that food ultimately lost or wasted consumes about a quarter of all the water used for agricultural purposes; it requires a cropland area the size of China; is responsible for an estimated 8% of greenhouse gas emissions; and contributes to the loss of biodiversity. With countries in the EU currently wasting 88 million tones of food, the European Council said that reforms needed to be made with the aid of new technologies. ‘Bio-refining’ could be “among the economically and environmentally beneficial ways of handling food losses and waste when food resources are no longer suited for people or animals.” The council also referenced a European Commission legislative proposal for an amendment to an existing directive on waste. The amendment would seek to reinforce food waste prevention within EU waste policy. The council called for food waste generation “to be reduced at each stage in the value chain”, and for “improved monitoring and reporting of food waste levels”. The council also urged member states to welcome the development of a common and practical EU monitoring protocol for measuring food loss and waste reduction. To this end, it stated, scientific measurement would help to achieve a baseline to help cross-national cooperation throughout the food chain. It urged member states to prioritise the prevention of food waste and promote the diversion of unavoidable food losses and waste to recycling and other forms of recovery, rather than disposal. The UK may not, however, be bound by any of the council’s findings in the wake of its decision to leave the EU in last week’s referendum. It is not yet clear what relationship the UK will have with the trading bloc, nor how it might reshape existing legislation on waste management.   Source link