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UK news in brief

by
30 November 2012

PA

"Once in a generation": the Energy Secretary Ed Davey sets out the proposals in the Energy Bill, introduced in the House of Commons, yesterday. Mr Davey said that the Bill's provisions would "bring on massive private sector investment which will boost the economy, create jobs and power Britain towards a prosperous low carbon future" 

"Once in a generation": the Energy Secretary Ed Davey sets out the proposals in the Energy Bill, introduced in the House of Commons, yesterday...

Energy Secretary accused of procrastinating

OPERATION NOAH, a Christian charity campaigning on climate change, warned on Monday that the Government appeared to be dragging its feet over committing itself to reducing carbon emissions. The Government announced last week that it would not set a "decarbonisation target" until the Climate Change Committee had provided advice in 2016, which "may well be too late", Operation Noah says.

New wave of universities created

TWO Anglican institutions, Bishop Grosseteste University College, Lincoln, and the University College of St Mark and St John, Plymouth, are among ten higher-education institutions that have met the criteria for the title of University. In the single biggest creation of universities since 1992, Leeds Trinity University College, and Newman University College, Birmingham, both Roman Catholic, also qualify.

Charities warn on housing benefit

ABOLISHING housing benefit for those under 25 will remove a "vital safety net" for young people, 13 charities, including the Children's Society and YMCA, warned in a letter to The Times on Thursday of last week. They suggested that, for many young adults, moving back in with their parents - as recommended by the Prime Minister at the Conservative Party conference last month - was "simply not an option, and could place them at risk". The policy is expected to be included in the Chancellor's Autumn Statement next Wednesday.

Priest ordered to hand over criminal proceeds

A PRIEST who officiated at more than 100 sham marriages at a church in east London has been ordered to hand over £10,792 in criminal proceeds. The Revd Brian Shipsides, the former Priest-in-Charge of All Saints', Forest Gate, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison in April ( News, 13 April).

Correction

In our account of the 1992 debate about women priests ( Features, 23 November), we misquoted Dorothy Chatterley. She described as "unworthy" a decision on the grounds of inevitability, not the motives of those aspiring to be priests. We apologise for the error.

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