Water companies reveal why they haven't issued a single hosepipe ban fine
Despite having the legal power to fine up to £1,000, companies say they have relied on public goodwill for compliance during multiple bans imposed since 2020.
Campaigners argue that water companies' own failings, such as leaking pipes and underinvestment, pose a greater threat to supplies than household water use.
The water sector faces scrutiny over a 60 per cent rise in serious pollution incidents in 2024, prompting government plans to overhaul regulation and scrap Ofwat.
Experts warn that the UK is running out of water, stressing the need for broader solutions beyond hosepipe bans, including everyone reducing water waste.
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BBC News
25 minutes ago
- BBC News
What do we know about Donald Trump's visit to Scotland?
Donald Trump flies into Scotland on Friday for a four-day trip, his first visit to the UK since his US president is due to visit his golf resorts at Turnberry on the Ayrshire coast and Menie in White House has described the visit as a "private" trip and said he will meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Scottish government has confirmed that First Minister John Swinney will also meet the is due to return to the UK for an official state visit in have already been raised about the scale of the visit and the security implications, with police representatives raising concern about both the costs involved and the impact on staffing. Why is President Trump coming to Scotland? The fact this is not an official state visit means President Trump is largely free to set his own main purpose appears to be to visit his two golf courses - Trump International at Menie in Aberdeenshire and Trump Turnberry in South Ayrshire. Trump opened the former in 2012 and bought Turnberry two years has been a regular visitor to both courses over the years, the last time being in 2023 when he broke ground on a second course at the site in connections to Scotland are mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, was born and raised just outside Stornoway in the Isle of Lewis. A native Gaelic speaker, she moved to New York aged 18, where she later married businessman Fred president has visited her former home in Tong more than once and has often spoken of his love of his mother's home investments have brought jobs to both his businesses in Scotland, though the scale of these have been clear, however, is that he retains a close interest in them, though serving presidents are meant - by convention - to step back from running any businesses while occupying the White House. When is President Trump coming to Scotland? The president is expected to arrive some time on Friday, and travel back to the US on Tuesday 29 schedule has not been made public but he is expected to split his time between his two Scottish bases at Turnberry and length of the trip and the relative lack of programmed meetings is a contrast to the forthcoming state visit, which will be a much more formal affair, from 17 to 19 that occasion, he and First Lady Melania Trump will stay at Windsor Castle as the guests of the King and Queen. Who is President Trump meeting in Scotland? Earlier this month, the president's press secretary told reporters at the White House that Trump would meet the prime minister in "Aberdeen" on Monday. Karoline Leavitt said the meeting with Starmer would "refine the great trade deal that was brokered between the United States and the United Kingdom".However, the Menie resort is about 10 miles (16km) north of the city and Downing Street has yet to confirm details of the proposed meeting, including where it will take place and what will be later said he had decided to meet the president on his trip because it was in Scotland's interests to do so. He said there were a number of domestic and international issues which were of interest to the people of Scotland including the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and the imposition of tariffs on products such as Scotch whisky.A Scottish government spokesperson said the president's visit would be an opportunity to "promote the interests of Scotland".Swinney previously said he did not see how September's state visit could go ahead in the wake of President Trump's showdown with Ukraine's President Zelensky in the White House in Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie described John Swinney's decision to meet President Trump as "tragic".He said: "There can be no excuses for trying to cosy up to his increasingly fascist political agenda." What will President Trump's security be like? Presidential visits are enormous affairs and the security operation which will accompany Trump and his family is Force One - the president's jet - is a heavily-defended flying White House. The presidential motorcade, which includes two identical limousines and more than 20 other security and communications vehicles, is transported ahead of the visit by United States Air Force transport the ground, the president travels in Cadillac One - an armoured, high-powered enhanced limousine known as "The Beast". And there will have to be an enhanced police presence, taken from the ranks of the host country's own forces. For the last state visit in June 2019, more than 6,300 UK police officers were deployed at a cost to London's Metropolitan Police of £3.4m. A previous four-day working visit in 2018 cost more than £ 2018 trip to Scotland is thought to have seen more than 5,000 officers deployed, with the UK Treasury chipping in about £5m to help with the there are already concerns about how much this "private" trip will cost Scotland, especially against a backdrop of police complaints about spending on the Scottish Police Federation (SPF), which represents rank-and-file officers, has raised concerns about what the Trump visit will mean for its Scotland confirmed it was preparing for a presidential visit earlier this Scottish government said it had been working with the national force to put plans in place, with thousands of officers likely to be deployed as part of the security operation. Will there be protests against President Trump? President Trump is probably the most high-profile individual ever to visit Scotland. He's also at constant was an attempt on his life during the 2024 election and a man has been charged with attempting to assassinate the president after being found with a rifle at a golf course in Florida in September are at the higher end of the risks facing security teams guarding the most powerful man on of the coming visit's police resources will be taken up with balancing the right to democratic protest with the president and his entourage's ability to travel safely around last presidential visit made by Trump in 2018 required a major security operation, with thousands protesting in Glasgow, Edinburgh and was booed during an afternoon game of golf by demonstrators gathered along the the perimeter at Turnberry.A paraglider also flew over the hotel with a banner criticising the will undoubtedly be more protests this time around. Among those who have vowed to be out on the streets is Scottish Green leadership contender Ross Greer, who called the president a "dangerous extremist".He told the BBC that he would be protesting "in solidarity with the people in the US and across the world who are already suffering as a result of Donald Trump".Police Scotland have said they have the resources to deal with whatever the visit brings.
BBC News
25 minutes ago
- BBC News
M&S backs farmers over UK Labour ministers in inheritance tax row
A senior executive at major UK retailer Marks and Spencer has criticised planned changes to inheritance tax, warning they will put off young people from working in April 2026, inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1m will be taxed at a rate of 20%, half the usual McLean, M&S head of agriculture and fisheries, told BBC Wales the policy will "definitely" be a "deterrent for young people coming into the industry".A UK government spokesperson said the "reforms to agricultural and business property relief are vital to fix the public services we all rely on". Ministers insist "three quarters of estates will continue to pay no inheritance tax at all, while the remaining quarter will pay half the inheritance tax that most people pay, and payments can be spread over 10 years, interest-free".One farming union warned last month that Welsh family farms have been thrown into "turmoil" by the changes. Speaking at the Royal Welsh Show in Llanelwedd, Mr McLean, firmly backed the farmers in the argument. M&S, he said, was "very, very clear" that agriculture should be treated differently by the government."The whole taxation system was devised to recognise that the margins of profitability in agriculture weren't like other industries," he said."That's why you had a difference in how the inheritance tax approach was set up." Mr McLean warned the changes, announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves last November, would "impact confidence"."They definitely will be a deterrent for young people coming into the industry, and we want to see a vibrant, viable farming structure where young people can come in and make a good living and be proud of what they do," he said. "So being able to give greater surety, greater security is going to be key to viable farming structure going forward."The UK government spokesperson added: "Our commitment to farming and food security is steadfast, which is why we've allocated a record £11.8bn to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament and appointed former NFU president Baroness Minette Batters to recommend new reforms to boost farmers profits."
The Sun
25 minutes ago
- The Sun
Baileys launches new ‘epic' flavour in UK with a twist – but it's only available at 600 supermarkets
BAILEYS has launched a new "epic" flavour in the UK - but it's only available at one supermarket. Diageo, which makes the tipple, has brought Cinnamon Swirl to the market and it's on sale exclusively in Sainsbury's stores. 1 The beverage was unveiled on shelves earlier this month, with a 700ml bottle costing £20. You won't find it on the Sainsbury's website though. Shoppers have just started spotting the new flavour in shops, including one who posted a picture of the bottle from their local store on the Food Finds UK Facebook page. Commenting on the post, one fellow shopper said: "I might have to give this a go it will taste like Christmas." Another chipped in: "Need to buy this love cinnamon." Meanwhile, a third simply said: "Oooh that sounds epic!!!" Shoppers keen to buy the new Cinnamon Swirl flavour will have to be quick as it's only on sale for a limited time, Diageo said. The 700ml bottle comes with 2,191 calories inside, or 156 per 50ml serving. Shoppers who don't have a Sainsbury's near them can buy bottles of the new Baileys flavour at other lesser-known retailers online. The Whisky World is selling a 500ml bottle for £18.90 while The Drink Supermarket is selling the same size for £17.99. That makes Sainsbury's the cheapest option as its 700ml bottle is £2.80 per 100ml, instead of £3.60 per 100ml or more at the two above retailers. Shoppers not so keen on the new Cinnamon Swirl flavour can get a classic 700ml bottle of Baileys cheapest at B&M for £14. Remember, you can compare the prices of thousands of supermarket products through the website. Or, you can flick through online prices by using the Google Shopping/Product tab. OTHER SAINSBURY'S NEWS Sainsbury's shoppers earlier this month slammed a new Nectar Card rule saying it makes it harder to get discounts. Loyalty card customers can now unlock personalised "Your Nectar Prices" offers based on their shopping habits at tills. However, shoppers will need to "unlock" the deals by selecting them on the Nectar website or app before they go to the supermarket. The quirk has left shoppers fuming over having to do "homework" before the weekly grocery trip. Meanwhile, after taking on its loans and bank account portfolio. History of Baileys Baileys, first released in 1974, combines Irish whiskey, and chocolate and vanilla flavours. Each year, around 200million litres of fresh milk are needed to produce enough Baileys to meet demand - around 3.3billion milkshakes. Diageo is produced by R&A Bailey & Co, owned by Diageo, and currently sells a range of different flavours including Birthday Cake, Salted Caramel and even Toffee Popcorn. The tipple in all its formats is currently sold in more than 160 countries across the world. The bank has confirmed the 1.8million customers on its systems will start being transferred from October, with all moved by December. The supermarket chain is set to roll out On-the-Go food hubs across its stores from autumn too. It comes after the retailer closed all remaining patisserie, hot food and pizza counters in its larger stores and 61 in-store cafes in April.
