Latest news with #DepartmentforEnvironment
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
UK braces for disaster: A fifth of Brits say war 'likely' in next two years while half expect power cuts chaos and deep freezes... so are YOU ready?
Brits are bracing for disaster with half expecting long power cuts in the next two years - and a fifth saying war is likely. The extent of public concern has been laid bare in government research, with the overwhelming majority worried the threat to the country is rising on a variety of fronts. There are also doubts about readiness for crises, with 51 per cent saying the UK was 'not at all' or only 'slightly' prepared. Nearly three-quarters were not confident that if power and water were lost their household could last out more than three days without outside help and supplies. Some 51 per cent admitted making no basic preparations in the past 12 months, such as having conversations with family about what they would do in case of an emergency More than 10,000 people took part in the Risk Perception, Resilience and Preparedness Survey, with the results weighted to represent the wider population. It was commissioned by the Cabinet Office and Department for Environment. Two thirds expect the number of emergencies to increase at little or a lot over the next decade. Some 55 per cent thought that it was 'likely' or 'very likely' that a storm severe enough to cause major disruption would affect their area in the next two years. Extreme cold weather was anticipated by 48 per cent over the same period, while 42 per cent thought a heatwave would cause trouble. A power cut that lasts for more than 12 hours was considered likely by 47 per cent - and 39 per cent said the same thing about a cyber attack that affected critical infrastructure. A water outage lasting for over 12 hours was anticipated by 35 per cent. War was seen as 'likely' in the next two years by 14 per cent, amid rising tensions with states such as Russia and China. A further 6 per cent said it was 'very likely'. That was roughly the same level as fear about terrorist attacks and wildfire in local areas. A third thought another human pandemic was on the cards, and a similar proportion said it was likely they would need to be evacuated due to flooding. Rioting and looting was mentioned as 'likely' by a quarter - amid warnings that the country is facing a repeat of last summer's unrest in the coming weeks. Despite the high level of concern about potential disasters, there was not a strong sense that the country was in a resilient position. Just 15 per cent thought the UK was 'totally' or 'largely' prepared for what could come, according to the research carried out between March and April. Some 51 per cent admitted they had made no basic preparations in the past year, such as having conversations with family about what they would do in case of an emergency. In case of power, gas and water being shut off 14 per cent thought they would last less than a day without outside help and supplies. Just 8 per cent were confident they could last a week or more. A Government spokesman said: 'This survey will inform our work with households, communities and first responders to keep the country safe. 'Last month we published a Resilience Action Plan, that sets out all the steps we're taking to build resilience, from investing £4.2billion in flood defences, to raising awareness of lifesaving advice on and testing the emergency alerts system across the country on September 7 2025.'
Metro
15-07-2025
- Health
- Metro
Restaurants could run out of cheese after UK bans European cheese imports
Fans of some of the most popular cheeses made in Italy and France could be left disappointed after imports to the UK were banned. There's been an outbreak of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in both European countries, which means the UK government has banned certain types of cheese from being imported. Cases of the viral disease have been reported on the Italian island of Sardinia as well as in south east France in recent weeks. To try and prevent the disease spreading to the UK, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has halted the importation of unpasteurised dairy products produced any time after May 23. While pasteurised cheeses such as pecorino romano from Italy can still make it into the UK (as long as the cheese's treatment processes are up to scratch), some of the most popular unpasteurised cheeses are currently banned. Upmarket cheesemongers say this has caused their supplies of products like mozzarella, fresh goat's cheese and brie to run low – and the situation will continue to worsen as new products are slow to arrive. Patricia Michelson, founder of artisan cheese distributor La Fromagerie based in Marylebone, said she is losing thousands of pounds worth of stock which is spoiling at the border. She told The Times: 'Every week our lorries are getting delayed. Even though they're chilled, it's not in the right environment and things come in and have to be binned. Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a viral disease which causes fever and reduced milk production in cows and water buffalo. The disease causes the cattle to develop skin nodules and lesions, as well as producing discharge from the eyes and nose. Cattle catch the disease through insect bites, but while humans cannot be affected by LSD, it's a notifiable disease because of its potential impact on animal health. The disease was first found in Zambia in the 1920s, and since then it has spread across Africa, with Morocco the only African country to have never recorded cases of it. In the mid-2010s the illness entered mainland Europe through Greece, the Balkans and Russia. 'We can't charge the producer, it's not their fault, they sent it all in perfect condition, it's what happens when it's stuck at the port. 'At the moment, we can't supply all the lovely, soft cow's milk cheeses like Camembert and brie. 'If people think that they can get what they want now, they won't, because everywhere will be slowly running out of stock. 'From Monday we will only be able to offer an English brie-style cheese.' La Fromagerie supplies more than 100 restaurants, including Gordon Ramsay's restaurant in Chelsea and triple Michelin starred Core. More Trending But Patricia says it has just sent out the last of its stock of French brie, and supplies of other fine cheese are in a 'precarious position'. A Defra spokesperson said: 'This government will do whatever it takes to protect British farmers and their herds from disease. 'We have strengthened protections by temporarily suspending imports of a small amount of products from Italy and France, following outbreaks of lumpy skin disease across Europe. 'Unpasteurised cheeses are restricted, but as most Italian cheeses, such as parmesan, mozzarella, and gorgonzola, are pasteurised this should not have a significant impact on supply chains.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Huge changes to mortgages for first-time buyers set to be unveiled today MORE: You could be given £3,750 off electric cars under new government grant scheme MORE: Mother of British hiker Matthew Hall, 33, missing in Alps tells of nightmare
Daily Mirror
02-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Martin Lewis' MSE urges households to check if they can get £2,000 compensation
You will get up to £2,000 for severe issues such as flooding, while households suffering consistent low water pressure will get up to £250 Martin Lewis' website has explained how households in England could be entitled to up to £2,000 in compensation from their water supplier from today. You could be entitled to payments for poor service such as disruption to your supply, low pressure or sewer flooding. You will get up to £2,000 for severe issues such as flooding, while households suffering consistent low water pressure will get up to £250. Payments will be automatically credited to your water account. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it is the first increase in compensation rates in 25 years. Defra will expand the list of circumstances that will trigger compensation payments from October 2025. This includes payments for when customers are asked to boil their water due to contaminated supply. This will entitle households to £40 compensation, plus £20 for each 24 hours the "do not drink" notice is in place, up to a maximum of your annual water bill, excluding sewerage services. MSE said: "The changes are being introduced under mandatory new rules to be enforced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). "Until now, guidelines on compensation payouts in England had been voluntary. These had been in place since 2000 and were monitored by water regulator Ofwat." Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: 'Too many water companies are letting down their customers – with leaking pipes, poor water supply and low water pressure. 'The Government is holding water companies to account by making them put money back into people's pockets when they fail their customers.' Mike Keil, the chief executive of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), said: 'Customers expect to be treated fairly when their water company lets them down, so we're delighted the Government has moved at pace to strengthen service standards. 'This should give people peace of mind they now have far stronger protection from a much broader range of water company service failures – from the slow installation of water meters to the mishandling of debt recovery. 'As well as bolstering payments for thousands of customers, these changes mark an important step towards restoring trust in the water sector which is at an all-time low.' Ofwat chief executive David Black said: ''We welcome these improvements to guaranteed standards and payments for customers. 'When customers suffer from problems like low pressure, disruptions to supply or sewer flooding, they can experience major stress and inconvenience, and payment amounts must recognise the disruption to their lives when standards are not met. 'These new changes are another way to make sure customers are protected when companies get it wrong.'
North Wales Chronicle
02-07-2025
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Households to receive up to £2,000 compensation for water service failures
Compensation payments will increase up to tenfold from July 2 for problems such as low pressure, disruptions to supply or sewer flooding. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the move marked the first increase in compensation rates in 25 years in recognition of the 'urgent need' to bring payments in line with inflation and properly compensate households for poor service. Severe issues such as flooding will see customer compensation double from £1,000 to up to £2,000, while households suffering consistent low water pressure will be automatically eligible to receive up to £250, up from the previous compensation rate of £25. Payments will automatically be credited to the accounts of eligible customers with immediate effect. The announcement comes as the Government attempts to grapple with the problems engulfing the water sector in the face of high public anger over the degraded and polluted state of rivers, lakes and coasts, rising bills, bosses' bonuses and shareholder payouts. Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: 'Too many water companies are letting down their customers – with leaking pipes, poor water supply and low water pressure. 'The Government is holding water companies to account by making them put money back into people's pockets when they fail their customers.' Defra said it was working with water companies to expand the list of circumstances that would trigger compensation payments. Compensation for when customers are asked to boil their water due to contaminated supply will come into force later this year, it said. The standards, outlined in the Guaranteed Standards Scheme, set out a baseline for customer service in the water sector and include providing timely restoration of water supply following an interruption, responding to written complaints and managing the risk of sewer flooding. Action already announced to cut sewage spills and attract investment in the sector includes: strengthening regulation to ensure polluting water bosses who cover up their crimes now face two-year prison sentences; the banning of 'unfair' bonuses for bosses of six polluting water companies; and 81 criminal investigations into sewage pollution. Mike Keil, the chief executive of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), said: 'Customers expect to be treated fairly when their water company lets them down, so we're delighted the Government has moved at pace to strengthen service standards. 'This should give people peace of mind they now have far stronger protection from a much broader range of water company service failures – from the slow installation of water meters to the mishandling of debt recovery. 'As well as bolstering payments for thousands of customers, these changes mark an important step towards restoring trust in the water sector which is at an all-time low.' Ofwat chief executive David Black said: ''We welcome these improvements to guaranteed standards and payments for customers. 'When customers suffer from problems like low pressure, disruptions to supply or sewer flooding, they can experience major stress and inconvenience, and payment amounts must recognise the disruption to their lives when standards are not met. 'These new changes are another way to make sure customers are protected when companies get it wrong.'
Leader Live
02-07-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
Households to receive up to £2,000 compensation for water service failures
Compensation payments will increase up to tenfold from July 2 for problems such as low pressure, disruptions to supply or sewer flooding. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the move marked the first increase in compensation rates in 25 years in recognition of the 'urgent need' to bring payments in line with inflation and properly compensate households for poor service. Severe issues such as flooding will see customer compensation double from £1,000 to up to £2,000, while households suffering consistent low water pressure will be automatically eligible to receive up to £250, up from the previous compensation rate of £25. Payments will automatically be credited to the accounts of eligible customers with immediate effect. The announcement comes as the Government attempts to grapple with the problems engulfing the water sector in the face of high public anger over the degraded and polluted state of rivers, lakes and coasts, rising bills, bosses' bonuses and shareholder payouts. Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: 'Too many water companies are letting down their customers – with leaking pipes, poor water supply and low water pressure. 'The Government is holding water companies to account by making them put money back into people's pockets when they fail their customers.' Defra said it was working with water companies to expand the list of circumstances that would trigger compensation payments. Compensation for when customers are asked to boil their water due to contaminated supply will come into force later this year, it said. The standards, outlined in the Guaranteed Standards Scheme, set out a baseline for customer service in the water sector and include providing timely restoration of water supply following an interruption, responding to written complaints and managing the risk of sewer flooding. Action already announced to cut sewage spills and attract investment in the sector includes: strengthening regulation to ensure polluting water bosses who cover up their crimes now face two-year prison sentences; the banning of 'unfair' bonuses for bosses of six polluting water companies; and 81 criminal investigations into sewage pollution. Mike Keil, the chief executive of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), said: 'Customers expect to be treated fairly when their water company lets them down, so we're delighted the Government has moved at pace to strengthen service standards. 'This should give people peace of mind they now have far stronger protection from a much broader range of water company service failures – from the slow installation of water meters to the mishandling of debt recovery. 'As well as bolstering payments for thousands of customers, these changes mark an important step towards restoring trust in the water sector which is at an all-time low.' Ofwat chief executive David Black said: ''We welcome these improvements to guaranteed standards and payments for customers. 'When customers suffer from problems like low pressure, disruptions to supply or sewer flooding, they can experience major stress and inconvenience, and payment amounts must recognise the disruption to their lives when standards are not met. 'These new changes are another way to make sure customers are protected when companies get it wrong.'
