UK to level up local transport with £7bn investment April 4, 2022 The UK Government announced today it will invest £7bn to level up the country’s local transport system. Transport secretary Grant Shapps tweeted that the funding will be use “to roll out cheaper, better bus services outside of London”, providing upgrade to tram, cycling and rail networks too. Under the scheme, 31 counties, city regions and [...]
Bus routes disrupted as drivers carry on with 48-hour strike against operator Arriva March 29, 2022 Around 30 London bus routes were disrupted in the last two days, as drivers continue to carry on with their 48-hour strike against bus operator Arriva London. The walkout was scheduled to last from yesterday until 3am tomorrow. Called on by the union Unite on Friday, the strike involves drivers based in depots around Croydon [...]
Transport secretary vows to force P&O to pay UK minimum wage and ‘U-turn’ on firing decision March 25, 2022 Transport secretary Grant Shapps has said he will force ferry operators to pay UK minimum wage whilst they’re in international waters, after calling for P&O boss Peter Hebblethwaite to resign from his position as head of the Dubai owned firm. The Tory minister said he will close the “loopholes” that let shipping companies pay seafarers [...]
P&O ‘chose’ to break the law by firing 800 people, company boss says March 24, 2022 P&O Ferries’ chief executive has admitted the ferry operator broke the law by failing to consult employees and unions before sacking 800 people. Peter Hebblethwaite told MPs there was “absolutely no doubt” P&O broke UK employment laws, as he admitted the ferry firm “chose not to consult” employees and unions. “We chose not to consult [...]
Lawyers counter P&O’s claims that it cannot be prosecuted March 24, 2022 Legal experts are disputing P&O’s claims that it is not subject to English law after company boss Peter Hebblethwaite said British courts have no power to prosecute the firm. The ferry operator claimed it had not broken UK laws, because its vessels are registered in Cyprus and Bermuda. The claims come after Prime Minister Boris [...]
Government funnels £3m in Hammersmith Bridge restoration works March 22, 2022 The UK Government will invest around £3m to carry out restoration works on Hammersmith Bridge, transport secretary Grant Shapps said this morning. “Almost £3 million will be invested by the government into vital works on Hammersmith Bridge,” Shapps tweeted. “This takes our total investment to nearly £7m, and will mean the bridge remains open to [...]
Lawyers say P&O broke the law by firing 800 staff over pre-recorded video call March 18, 2022 Dubai owned ferry operator P&O could be subject to a series of successful lawsuits over its decision to fire all 800 of its UK staff via a pre-recorded video call, lawyers have said. Speaking to City A.M. Helen Crossland, employment partner at West End law firm Seddons said P&O’s decision will expose the firm to [...]
DVLA taking ‘extremely seriously’ claims hundreds of staff were on full pay but not working March 18, 2022 The DVLA is taking “extremely seriously”, claims that hundreds of staff were on full pay but not working during an application backlog crisis. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency responded to an in-depth undercover investigation by The Times , insisting allegations against its 6,000-strong staff are “not representative of the hardworking culture” there. This comes [...]
Rail franchise Govia slapped with £23.5m fine over HS1 scandal March 17, 2022 The government has slapped rail franchise Govia with a £23.5m fine over a breach of an agreement relating to High Speed One. The penalty notice for the company – run by the Go-Ahead Group (65 per cent) and Keolis (35 per cent) – was issued to the operating firm London & South Eastern Railway Limited [...]
Taxi drivers and railway staff to face criminal record checks following clamp down on gender violence March 8, 2022 Taxi drivers and railway staff will be subjected to criminal record checks, under the UK Government’s new plans to clamp down on gender violence. Public-facing transport staff could be vetted for previous offences through the disclosure and barring service (DBS), the Telegraph reported. The government’s decision comes after a report highlighted that 49 per cent [...]