Feature Articles

Escalating food prices, energy bills, and political tension accompany a recent jump in the cost of gas. With no other contender mature or agile enough to take its place, natural gas occupies a unique position in the UK’s energy sector. Jack Barwise explores the current energy crisis, the role of global gas shortages, and what businesses can expect in the coming months.

The Government publishes annual road accident statistics some nine months in arrears of each given year and the 2020 figures were released on 30 September 2021.

In order to cope with the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic and maintain essential transport, a number of relaxations have been made by the Government. The Senior Traffic Commissioner has also published a set of temporary updates to certain of the existing Statutory Documents that provide guidance to Traffic Commissioners when dealing with regulatory issues. These relaxations apply to England, Scotland and Wales only, as the arrangements for Northern Ireland are devolved.

This article looks at why this crisis developed, what steps the Government has taken to alleviate the problems and whether they will work.

Load security and the way any issues are prosecuted or regulated is an area that has changed substantially in recent years and one where operators need to ensure they keep up to date with “best practice”. Here Andrew Woolfall, of Backhouse Jones Solicitors, examines the way drivers are expected to report defects, what is deemed acceptable when conducting regular brake tests and the change in attitude towards loads which are not properly restrained.

Richard J Smith, transport consultant, takes a look at the three areas in the freight transport industry where acquired rights (previously known as grandfather rights) currently apply.

From revolutionary to ruinous, plastics breathed life into the current age we live in today. Now we face decisions and policy to wean businesses away from the lifeline that plastics offered to a more sustainable means of production in order to mitigate pollution, habitat loss and climate change. Existing commitments are to be reconsidered and even redoubled where new zero-waste and carbon reduction targets are to be met in earnest. Max Starr reports.

The risks from Covid-19 are still very much present in the workplace and it is important to remember that employers have a duty of care towards their employees to protect the health and safety of their workforce. This information is being continually checked and updated.

These FAQs deal with the mechanics of furloughing workers under the Job Retention Scheme (JRS) in place from November 2020.

Researcher and employment law writer at Croner-i, Opeyemi Ogundeji, explores the recent development on shielding and what this will mean for employers.