UK has 'mitigated' oil drop impact on Scots – Carney
14 Jan 2015 Energy & Environment
UK has 'mitigated' oil drop impact on Scots – Carney

Scotland protected from full shock of drop in oil prices by economic and financial union of UK 
Firm stripped of £9bn nuclear clean-up contract
13 Jan 2015 Energy & Environment
Firm stripped of £9bn nuclear clean-up contract

Move comes after PAC blasts Nuclear Management Partners for handling of operations at Sellafield
New authority will be funded by Defra and local council to combat floods
09 Dec 2014 Energy & Environment
New authority will be funded by Defra and local council to combat floods

The Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) will receive joint funding from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and Somerset County Council as part of the Somerset Action Plan (SAP), it was announced Monday 8 December. 
Government gives a nod to flooding in National Infrastructure Plan
02 Dec 2014 Energy & Environment
Government gives a nod to flooding in National Infrastructure Plan

The government will invest £2.3bn in flood defence projects between now and 2020, according to the National Infrastructure Plan published today.


UK's first specialist shale college announced
12 Nov 2014 Energy & Environment
UK's first specialist shale college announced

The first national UK shale college was announced by Business, Enterprise & Energy minister Matthew Hancock today. 
Head of OGA will be highest paid civil servant
10 Nov 2014 Energy & Environment
Head of OGA will be highest paid civil servant

Andy Samuel will be the highest paid civil servant after accepting a £1m contract to head the newly created Oil and Gas Authority (OGA). 


TB testing on farms to be greater centralised from April 2015
10 Nov 2014 Energy & Environment
TB testing on farms to be greater centralised from April 2015

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has announced plans to centralise TB testing on farms to ensure greater efficiency from April 2015. 
Defra launches strategy to protect and support bees
07 Nov 2014 Energy & Environment
Defra launches strategy to protect and support bees

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) is launching a new strategy to support and protect bees and other pollinators in the UK. 
DECC announce new North Sea licence blocks
07 Nov 2014 Energy & Environment
DECC announce new North Sea licence blocks

The Department of Energy & Climate Change’s (DECC’s) current offshore licensing round is set to be the biggest round of licensing since 1964.
DECC calls for industry input on implementing Wood Review
06 Nov 2014 Energy & Environment
DECC calls for industry input on implementing Wood Review

The Department for Energy & Climate Change (DECC) is asking key figures in the oil and gas industry for their views on the sanctions regime and cost recovery mechanisms of the newly established Oil and Gas Authority (OGA), as part of a consultation on the Wood Review. 
Chief executive of OGA appointed
06 Nov 2014 Energy & Environment
Chief executive of OGA appointed

Andy Samuel has been appointed as the chief executive of the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA).
Defra’s flood maintenance processes 'robust' but underfunded, says NAO
05 Nov 2014 Energy & Environment
Defra’s flood maintenance processes 'robust' but underfunded, says NAO

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra’s) flood defence resources are limited and current spending is “insufficient to meet many of the maintenance needs” identified by the Environment Agency (EA), the National Audit Office (NAO) said today.