UK News Headlines - Yahoo! News UK

UK considers 10-20 percent price cuts for some drugs

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 12:05:55 +0100

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Department of Health said on Thursday it was considering cutting some drug prices by between 10 and 20 percent to ensure the state healthcare system gets good value for money. Governments across Europe have been taking a tough line on medicine costs as stagnant economic growth hits budgets. (This story makes clears price cuts sought for some, not all, drugs) (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; editing by Keith Weir)

South Wales School Car Crash: Several Casualties

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 12:06:08 +0100

A car has overturned after smashing into children and adults outside a primary school in South Wales, injuring nine people.

NHS 'Cover-Up' Staff Could Be Named

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 11:53:11 +0100

A decision not to name those accused of covering-up failures by an NHS watchdog to properly investigate baby deaths could be reversed.

Rihanna Hits Fan With Microphone At Concert

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 11:37:13 +0100

YouTube footage has emerged of Rihanna apparently hitting a fan with her microphone after her arm was grabbed during a concert.

GM Crops 'Safe And Beneficial', Says Minister

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 11:14:47 +0100

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has called on the Government, scientists and industry leaders to join forces to allay the public's fears on the use of genetically modified crops.

Jeremy Forrest's Father Collapses At Court

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 11:09:50 +0100

The father of Jeremy Forrest, the teacher accused of abducting a schoolgirl and taking her to France, has collapsed while waiting for his son's trial to restart.

Kids hurt in crash near school

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 10:56:01 +0100

A number of children have been injured after a car overturned near a primary school.

Poor Children Are Being 'Failed By Schools'

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 10:52:39 +0100

Poor children at schools in "leafy suburbs, market towns or seaside resorts" are being failed by the education system, according to the chief inspector of schools.

UK Retail Sales Jump On Discounting

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 10:51:50 +0100

UK retail sales jumped in May as supermarket discounting and online business drove a better than expected performance for the sector.

Food offers boost retail sales

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 10:47:40 +0100

Supermarket offers on food helped drive retail sales higher than expected last month, adding to signs of optimism over consumer spending.

Rebound in UK retail sales signals solid second quarter

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 10:38:46 +0100

By Olesya Dmitracova and David Milliken LONDON (Reuters) - Retail sales bounced back much more than expected in May, adding to evidence of accelerating economic growth in the second quarter and easing some of the pressure on the central bank to boost the economy. The Office for National Statistics said on Thursday sales volumes grew 2.1 percent on the month, after posting the sharpest fall in a year in April. May's rise was the biggest since February. Compared with a year earlier, sales rose 1.9 percent, again the fastest increase since February. ...

Minister hails benefits of GM crops

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 09:39:00 +0100

Genetically modified crops have the potential to improve the environment and save lives, Owen Paterson said as he launched a new push for the UK to be at the forefront of developing the controversial technology.

UK watchdog says Lloyds must raise 8.6 billion pounds capital

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 09:11:08 +0100

By Huw Jones and Matt Scuffham LONDON (Reuters) - Lloyds Banking Group must plug a capital shortfall of 8.6 billion pounds ($13.5 billion), Britain's banking regulator said on Thursday, a day after the government signalled plans to return the part-state owned lender to the private sector. Britain is trying to restore confidence in a banking sector that had to be shored up by taxpayers during the 2007-09 financial crisis. Apart from the large minority stake in Lloyds, it also owns 81 percent of Royal Bank of Scotland. ...

Bill errors costing families £6.7bn

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 08:49:50 +0100

Families are being left hundreds of pounds out of pocket due to errors by firms calculating their household bills, new research has found.

Barclays says no need to issue equity to plug capital

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:41:53 +0100

LONDON (Reuters) - Barclays said it can fill a 3 billion pound ($4.7 billion) capital shortfall identified by Britain's financial regulator from earnings and other restructuring measures and does not plan to issue equity. Britain's Prudential Regulation Authority said Barclays needs to find 3 billion pounds under a capital exercise based on end-2012 data, out of a 27.1 billion shortfall for Britain's top banks. ...

Lenders told to plug £27bn hole

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:33:52 +0100

Five of Britain's biggest lenders must plug a combined £27.1 billion hole in their finances, with Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland accounting for more than 90% of the shortfall, the City regulator revealed.

Mentally Ill Locked Up In Police Custody

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 06:23:23 +0100

Too many people suffering from mental health issues are being locked up in police custody rather than being protected in hospitals, a joint inspection has found.

Peer: Prosecute health regulators

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 05:35:38 +0100

Health regulators should face prosecution for covering up their failure to investigate a spate of baby deaths, a leading lawyer said.

Memorial planned for code-breaker

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 05:35:38 +0100

An unsung hero of Britain's wartime Bletchley Park code-breaking operation is set to be honoured with a memorial 70 years after he helped turn the tide of the conflict.

Britain, France face EU action over high Eurostar charges

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 05:34:54 +0100

By Ethan Bilby BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission has given France and Britain two months to respond to a request to lower charges for passenger and freight trains to use the Channel Tunnel, or face possible court action, it said on Thursday. The Commission said the illegally high track access charges result in higher ticket prices for passengers of the high-speed Eurostar service linking London with Paris and Brussels. ...

Billing Errors Cost Families Up To £400 A Year

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 03:16:42 +0100

Millions of families are being left up to £400 out of pocket due to errors in calculating their household bills.

Qatada deportation moves closer

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 03:05:04 +0100

The UK Government is expected to take its final steps towards ratifying a treaty designed to trigger the removal of radical cleric Abu Qatada from the country.

Online retailer offers £3.68 dress