A shortage of apprenticeship places persists despite a one-third increase in Devon and Cornwall over the past year, a Government minister has said.The coalition Government has hailed official figures indicating an extra £300 million investment in...
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Westcountry tourism is poised for a major cash windfall after the Government provisionally backed calls for the clocks to go forward by one hour all year round.Ministers significantly shifted their position yesterday by stating they would support moves...
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Homes and businesses are at greater risk of flooding as a result of deep budget cuts, the Government's spending watchdog has warned.The National Audit Office (NAO) contends a significant funding gap is opening up between the money needed to maintain fl...
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Almost 7,000 people in the Westcountry could lose access to crucial legal help if the Government's plans to slash the legal aid budget are successful, a campaign group has warned.Analysis of the Government's cuts to funding for legal advice by Justice ...
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Conservative MPs in the Westcountry have joined Tory rebels demanding an "in-or-out" European Union referendum as pressure on David Cameron grows.
Sheryll Murray, MP for South East Cornwall, and Sarah Wollaston, who represents Totnes, are among the ...
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Wave Hub, the marine energy project located off the Hayle coast, has welcomed today’s Government proposals to more than double the subsidy available to wave and tidal energy projects.
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The newly-installed Defence Secretary has insisted Devonport will remain a "principal" UK naval base as another Government minister hinted new warships could be based in the Westcountry.
Fears over the future of the Plymouth base were raised in the ...
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A charity claims the government is not doing enough for hundreds of former carers in Cornwall.
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A supermarket watchdog to protect farmers and food producers from bully-boy tactics has been branded "toothless" by MPs and farmers.The criticism followed the Government rejecting calls to give the retail overseer powers to issue heavy fines and allow ...
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Two tugs axed by the Government have resumed Maritime and Coastguard Agency cover after a last-minute U-turn resulted in a new short-term contract.The restoration of the service in Scotland has raised serious concerns in the Westcountry, which had its ...
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The leader of Falmouth's BID team is heading to London to lobby the Government and Mary Portas over proposals to help stimulate trade on the High Street.
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Whistleblowers in the NHS should be "encouraged and protected" by the Government in order to protect patients and keep up standards, according to a Westcountry MP.Andrew George, MP for St Ives and a member of the Health Select Committee, wants Whiteha...
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Young people could be offered sweeteners to consider a career in farming, the Government has suggested.Westcountry MP George Eustice, a former young farmer, has warned ministers the industry is struggling to attract new blood.In the Commons, Environm...
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Hundreds of women in the Westcountry will benefit from a Government concession to its planned increase in the state pension age.The Department for Work and Pensions said a plan to raise the state pension age to 66 in 2020 will be delayed by six months ...
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The Westcountry's housing crisis has been laid bare after renting a property anywhere in Devon and Cornwall was labelled "unaffordable".An analysis by housing charity Shelter suggests the problem is most acute in Exeter, Torbay, North Devon, East Devon...
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Controversial Government plans to tackle TB in cattle by culling badgers will reduce herd breakdowns by just 2.5 per cent but cost farmers "hundreds of thousands of pounds", Labour has claimed.Shadow environment secretary Mary Creagh said official...
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A flagship Government policy to fire the Westcountry economy appears to be faltering.Little more than 1,200 firms in the greater South West have taken up the offer of a national insurance "holiday".But the £50,000 tax break – designed to pu...
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Dozens of senior South West medical professionals have united in their condemnation of planned healthcare reforms over concerns quality will be compromised for profit.
The Government's controversial Health and Social Care Bill is roundly rejected by...
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Unemployment continues to rise in the Westcountry as the national jobless total reached a 17-year high.
More pressure was heaped on the Government as the latest official figures showed unemployment increased by 114,000 to 2.57 million – the wo...
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Drawing up proposals for a badger cull has cost taxpayers more than £400,000 as ministers attempt to avoid a legal challenge from animal welfare groups, it has emerged.Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman has said she is "strongly minded" to sa...
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Chief ReporterQuestions were last night being asked why Scotland was being "favoured" over the Westcountry, after it emerged that the Government is funding a £3 million extension to emergency maritime cover.Department for Transport (DfT) budget c...
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