Tag Archives: political

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News story: Track workers struck by ballast, Chathill

Track workers struck by ballast thrown from the track bed by a passing train near Chathill, Northumbria, 16 February 2017.

At around 10:10 hrs on 16 February 2017 two track workers were struck by flying ballast. This was thrown from the track bed by a train on which a flexible hose had become detached at one end and was dragging on the ground. Neither track worker suffered significant injury.

We have undertaken a preliminary examination into the circumstances surrounding this accident. Having assessed the evidence which has been gathered to date, we have decided to publish a safety digest.

The safety digest will shortly be made available on our website.

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HM Government • • •

Conservative Ministers are out of ideas and have no long-term plan to fix the cost of housing crisis – John Healey

John Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, responding to new figures released today showing that home-ownership has fallen to the lowest rate in 30 years, said:

“These new government figures show yet another fall in the home-ownership rate in England to the lowest rate in more than 30 years. There are now almost 200,000 fewer home-owning households than in 2010 when Conservative Ministers first took charge.

“Meanwhile, the number of people stuck in an insecure and increasingly expensive private rented sector has grown dramatically over the last seven years. Since 2010, the number of households renting privately as ballooned by over a million.

“After seven years of failure on housing, not only has home-ownership fallen, but affordable housebuilding has hit a 24 year low and rough sleeping has more than doubled. The truth is Conservative Ministers are out of ideas and have no long-term plan to fix the cost of housing crisis.

“Theresa May says she wants a country that works for everyone, so she should back Labour’s plans to build thousands more affordable homes to rent and buy, improve rights for renters and end the scandal of rough sleeping.”    

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Labour • • •

The CQC’s stark warning that our NHS stands on a ‘burning platform’ must be at the forefront of the Chancellor’s priorities ahead of next week’s Budget – Jonathan Ashworth

Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Health, commenting on the CQC’s State of Hospitals report, said:

“The CQC’s stark warning that our NHS stands on a ‘burning platform’ must be at the forefront of the Chancellor’s priorities ahead of next week’s Budget.

“Our hardworking and stretched NHS staff cannot be expected to pick up the pieces from this Government’s failure to properly fund our NHS and social care system.

“After the worst winter crisis in years, in which nine out of ten hospitals were left dangerously overcrowded, the public expects urgent action to rectify years of damaging Tory neglect.”

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Labour • • •