Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues
By Samuel Wood Filed Under: All posts, Science and Technology Posted:
A lively debate on the pros and cons of hydraulic fracturing -fracking- got Policy Week off to a great start. Sam Wood reports on the discussion. Fracking causes a wide range of emotions in people, something that was really brought out at the beginning of the session, when the audience were asked to complete a […]
By Philip Shapira Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted:
We need to prepare for a world where synthetic biology will reshape our lives, economies and environment. But this rapidly emerging technology needs to be responsibly developed, says Professor Philip Shapira, ahead of an exciting event in Manchester next week. Synthetic biology involves combining scientific and engineering methods to redesign biological components and systems found […]
By Colin Talbot Filed Under: All posts, Westminster Watch, Whitehall Watch Posted:
The Government has only itself to blame for its House of Lords defeat over Tax Credits, which it could easily have avoided says Colin Talbot. Normally, major financial changes introduced in a Budget are put through the normal House of Commons mechanisms for ‘supply’ (spending) and finance (tax). As these measures were about tax (credits) […]
By Laurence Brown Filed Under: Ethnicity, Europe, Featured Posted:
Given that it is the central focus of UK immigration policy, it is striking that the actual number of the net migration target and its statistical justification has remained so nebulous, says Dr Laurence Brown. “Net migration” was a key term that dominated Home Secretary Theresa May’s recent speech at the Conservative party conference. In […]
By Douglas Bamford Filed Under: Featured, Westminster Watch Posted:
Cutting tax credits is the wrong way to reform the benefits system, argues Doug Bamford. Earnings subsidies will reduce the incentive to work in the shadow economy, he explains. Recent government plans to reduce tax credits have generated a lot of interest and controversy. I propose a further reason to think that the proposals are […]
By Paul Younger and Kevin Anderson Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted:
Our dependence on a constant supply of energy presents seemingly intractable dilemmas. One of these is whether fracking should be permitted. Professor Paul Younger and Professor Kevin Anderson took opposing views in a recent online debate. In the US, the recovery of underground reserves of shale gas and its extraction from solid rock through the […]
By Kath Checkland Filed Under: All posts, Featured Posted:
GPs are dealing with increased stress and more are leaving practice. Yet there are signs for optimism, reports Professor Kath Checkland. GPs in the UK are fed up – this much is commonplace. Newspaper headlines and social media alike tell a tale of dissatisfaction, declining morale and intentions to quit. If these reports are to […]
By Michelle Custodio Filed Under: Featured Posted:
The Government aims to build one million more homes by 2020, the Prime Minister has announced. Michelle Custodio puts the need for more homes in perspective. How many more homes does the UK need? Back in May last year, the then business secretary Vince Cable argued that the UK should build an extra 300,000 a […]
By Kevin Anderson Filed Under: All posts Posted:
Professor Kevin Anderson, Deputy Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, will be attending the Climate Change Conference in Paris this December. He has a stark warning about the future of our climate. In July 2015 scientists attended a major climate conference as a prelude to the political negotiations in Paris in December. After […]
By Jill Rubery Filed Under: Featured, Westminster Watch, Whitehall Watch Posted:
Jill Rubery makes a passionate case for retaining unsocial hours compensation for trainee doctors. A recent BBC Newsnight item on the current contract dispute for trainee doctors began by asking why trainee doctors should be compensated for weekend working when Saturday was ‘just another working day’. This immediately took me back to a research project […]