Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues
By Amanda Lea-Langton Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering Posted:
Development of a low carbon hydrogen-based economy is seen as a major part of achieving net-zero emissions across the world. Hydrogen is a flexible and potentially non-polluting fuel because it only produces water when it is used in fuel cells or burnt. However, the production of hydrogen can have a high carbon footprint depending on […]
By Pete Duncan and Nick Lord Filed Under: All posts, Urban Posted:
The Football Governance Bill sets out to establish a new Independent Football Regulator (IFR) for English men’s elite football. As these plans for a new regulator continue to unfold, research conducted by the Department of Criminology at The University of Manchester has found that the ownership structures of many English Premier League football clubs share […]
By Anne Stafford Filed Under: All posts, Health and Care, Health and Social Care, Urban Posted:
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, NHS England remains in crisis. We are now accustomed to ambulances queuing outside accident and emergency departments, bed shortages, growing waiting lists for elective care, and old, crumbling hospital buildings. In this article, from our On Infrastructure publication, Professor Anne Stafford examines the consequences of using private finance to deliver healthcare […]
By Caroline Bond Filed Under: All posts, Education Posted:
Poverty and disadvantage have considerable effects on children and young people. For many young people multiple aspects of disadvantage affect their lives and increase the risk of negative outcomes. In the UK, austerity, funding cuts and Covid-19 have contributed to increasing levels of poverty and disproportionately affected disadvantaged children. In this article, Professor Caroline Bond […]
By Martin Schröder and Sihai Yang Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Environment, Health and Care, Health and Social Care, Research and development, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology, Urban, Work Posted:
Benzene, a volatile organic compound (VOC) with widespread industrial applications, poses severe health risks to humans even at trace levels. Its genotoxic effects, which involve direct damage to cellular DNA and genetic material leading to mutations, are strongly linked to cancer and blood disorders, making its control a critical priority for workplace safety and environmental […]
By Ian Mell Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Environment, Growth and Inclusion, Urban Posted:
To meet targets of building 1.5 million homes, the new government launched a consultation on the process for releasing Green Belt land. Proposals include creating a new designation of “Grey Belt” land. But given the contentious nature of Green Belts and the arguments made for and against development in these locations, the addition of this new […]
In February 2024, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls urged the UK government to ‘do more to translate its political recognition of the scale of violence against women and girls into action’. In response, the Labour Party, now in government, declared its ‘landmark mission to halve violence against women and […]
By Sam Hind Filed Under: Digital Futures, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology, Urban Posted:
One of the final bills passed by the outgoing Sunak government was the Automated Vehicles Act (2024), designed to make provisions for the possible rollout of autonomous vehicles in the future. If the new Starmer government is to continue this work, then lessons need to be learnt from the US, where the deployment of autonomous […]
By Juan Matthews Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:
Decarbonising electricity in the UK is far from straightforward. Government plans for the nation’s future electricity supply rely heavily on renewables, supported by gas power during periods of low renewable output. In this article, Professor Juan Matthews considers how nuclear energy can provide an alternative to gas power and support a future renewables-heavy grid, and […]
By Georgios Kitsaras, Michaela Goodwin and Tanya Walsh Filed Under: All posts, Health and Care, Health and Social Care Posted:
Children’s oral health in England is in crisis, with thousands of children across the country suffering from dental caries, the most prevalent and prominent form of dental disease. In response, the government has promised measures to tackle dental health inequalities. But how can policymakers best implement this plan to ensure it has the desired impact? […]