Rail passengers were not given good information on services during severe early-winter weather, an interim report said today. The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) report said problems included those relating to operational planning and new technology mistakes.

More people are entering the UK each year than are leaving it causing ministers to consider setting an immigration cap on migrants coming from outside the EU. According to figures released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) yesterday, net migration – the difference between people coming into the UK and those leaving it – [...]

Publication of the government’s plans to reform higher education in England is to be delayed. The decision is partially so the government can consider what fees universities are going to offer. The Higher Education White Paper was meant to be published by March 2011.

England’s water and sewage bills will rise by 4.6 per cent this April in England and Wales. The rise is expected to be an average of £356 per household. Prices will be allowed to rise approximately level with inflation, with the coming financial year being the second year of the existing five year policy. OFWAT first announced the policy – [...]

An “enormous gamble” has been taken by the government with the UK’s defence spending cuts according to a former navy chief. Admiral Lord Boyce, a former Chief of the Defence Staff, said losing an aircraft carrier force for 10 years was “a desperate expression of hope over experience”. A number of ex-defence chiefs and ministers have come out in criticism [...]

West Ham manager Avram Grant said today that his side will move off the bottom of the Premier League table if they continue their current form. Although the Hammers have not won in their last six league games and not taken victory since September. They have drawn their last two matches against Birmingham City and West [...]

Bidding for use of the Olympic Park stadium after the 2012 games will be between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United, it has been confirmed today.

New IVF treatment in Surrey is to stop as the NHS battle a £125million shortage this year. After a meeting at Cobham on Friday, NHS members decided “serious financial challenges” would have to be confronted. Current IVF courses will remain and women approaching 40 would still receive treatment, while IVF policy is to be reviewed [...]

The average costs of band D council tax bills in England for 2010/2011 is set to increase by the lowest percentage since the tax was introduced in 1993. The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and local authorities predict rises of below 2% while a CIPFA survey suggests the average bill will be [...]