Latest News from South Wales Argus
South Wales Argus
32 minutes ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Energy firms pay £8m in penalties after attending some gas leaks late
Regulator Ofgem said Cadent Gas, Scotland Gas Networks and Southern Gas Networks have voluntarily agreed to pay the funds after missing their targets between 2022 and 2023. Ofgem's rules require companies which manage the gas network to attend reports of suspected gas leaks within one or two hours, depending on the incident, in 97% of cases. Southern Gas Networks will pay £5.8 million, Cadent will pay £1.5 million and Scotland Gas Networks will pay £700,000. The cash will go into Ofgem's voluntary redress fund, which provides money for projects that support vulnerable energy consumers. Cathryn Scott, director of market oversight and enforcement at Ofgem, said: 'The potential risk to households and businesses if gas leaks aren't investigated quickly is significant, so it's right that the companies involved have acknowledged the seriousness of missing these targets. 'We're confident the companies have improved their systems and processes to make sure this doesn't happen again and have demonstrated their commitment to this by meeting their targets in the two years since the breach.' Ofgem said it opened an investigation into the three companies after they self-reported missing their targets.
South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Breaking News. M4 delays, morning traffic Newport
As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience – the local community. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times.
South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Tom Daley says getting to know people on Celebrity Traitors felt ‘very intense'
The forthcoming BBC show, a charity spin-off of The Traitors, will see 19 famous faces – who include comedian Alan Carr and actor and broadcaster Sir Stephen Fry – gather in the Scottish Highlands for the 'ultimate game of deceit and betrayal'. Speaking about The Celebrity Traitors at a special screening for his new documentary, the Olympian told the PA news agency: 'I'm not sure when it comes out, maybe later this year, but it was a very fun experience. 'And honestly, all I want to do is talk about it, but I'm not allowed. 'All I can say is, it was very fun – the cast and meeting the other people. 'It was great to see everybody and get to know everyone on a much deeper level, and very intense level, because you're completely shut off from the rest of the world. So yeah, it was fun.' Hosted by Strictly Come Dancing's Claudia Winkleman, the nine-part celebrity version, airing in the autumn, will give contestants the chance to win a cash prize of up to £100,000 for a charity of their choice. Daley, 31, also appears in the new Discovery+ documentary, Tom Daley: 1.6 Seconds, which features personal family films and candid interviews with the athlete and those closest to him, including his husband, Oscar-winning screenwriter, Dustin Lance Black. The 90-minute documentary, the name of which references the time between platform exit and pool entry, charts Daley's career, from the build-up to his first Olympics in Beijing 2008 to post-retirement life. He told PA: 'This documentary is a very vulnerable side to me, like diving into topics that I may not have talked about in such depth before, and it might give people a different perspective of what was actually going on versus what they saw in the media. 'Because growing up is already kind of pretty tough, but then growing up under media scrutiny and having people already having a conception of who you are and how you should deal with things was pretty challenging. 'But then also diving into the archival footage that my dad had seen. For me, it's like hearing my dad's voice that really makes me quite emotional in the documentary. 'I just feel very grateful that I do have this documentary to be able to look back on, and for my kids to be able to see and have those moments kind of made eternal, if you like, with my dad and myself.' Daley's father died from cancer in 2011, meaning he missed seeing the diver secure his first Olympic medal, a bronze, at the London Games in 2012. The diver, who secured his fifth Olympic medal in 2024, announced his retirement from diving following the Paris Games. – Tom Daley: 1.6 Seconds premieres on Discovery+ in the UK and Ireland on June 1.
South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Starmer and Farage in ‘race to the bottom' on child benefit cap, says Badenoch
Writing in the Daily Mail, the Tory leader accused Sir Keir Starmer and Nigel Farage of engaging in a 'race to the bottom' on welfare. She said: 'Apparently, Starmer and Farage now believe in getting taxpayers – many of whom are struggling to raise their own children or choosing not to have them in the first place – to fund unlimited child support for others. Nigel Farage has said Reform UK would abolish the two-child benefit cap (Jacob King/PA) 'That's not fair, it's not sustainable and it's not even compassionate. Welfare traps people, builds dependency and it drives up costs for everyone.' Her comments come after Mr Farage announced his party would abolish the cap as part of a series of spending promises including reinstating the winter fuel allowance and changing rules on tax-free allowances for married couples. At the same time, the Prime Minister said his Government was looking at 'all options' to drive down child poverty, but has not committed to getting rid of the cap. Mrs Badenoch said both leaders' comments on the cap showed they were 'content to make promises they can't keep', arguing the Conservatives were 'going to be the party of sound money and fiscal responsibility again'. The cap, introduced by the Conservatives in 2017, prevents Universal Credit claimants from receiving additional benefits for a third or subsequent child born after April 5 2017. Campaigners say the cap exacerbates child poverty and has had a minimal impact on birth rate or family size. The Child Poverty Action Group has said abolishing the cap would lift 350,000 children out of poverty and mean another 700,000 were in less deep poverty.
South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Central Co-op customers get vouchers after stock disruption
The message from the company comes after customers showed 'patience and continued support' during the recent stock availability challenges that are linked to the recent cyber-attack on the Co-op Group. Here's what we know about the exclusive offers and how you can claim them. As a token of Central Co-op's appreciation, the Society is offering two promotions. Central Co-op apologises for stock issue with vouchers for customers Customers and Members will receive a £1.50 voucher (to be used on a £15 spend) in an email if they are signed up to Central Co-op emails. If they spend £20 in-store between May 27 and June 20 they can get a free coffee on their next visit (in selected stores with a vended coffee machine) or a £2 off voucher (to be used on a £20 spend) in stores without a vended coffee machine. Check your receipt for these offers. How many cups of tea/coffee should you drink a day? You can find out more about the offers and sign up to become a Member at the Central Co-op websites. Recommended reading: These offers are Central Co-op's way of recognising the loyalty and understanding its communities have shown while colleagues have worked hard to resolve the issues and restore full stock availability across its stores. Debbie Robinson, chief executive of Central Co-op, said: 'We are truly grateful for the support shown by our Members and customers during a difficult time. 'These offers are a small gesture of thanks as we return to full service, putting the products you love back on shelves, and continuing to put community at the heart of everything we do.'
