UK News

Are you eligible for Basic Payment Scheme? On the 1st January 2015, Single Farm Payment will be replaced by the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). Under BPS you will have to be eligible to claim, and greening requirements will make up 30% of your BPS payment.

To be eligible for BPS you will need to: 1. be an active farmer 2. have at least 5 hectares of eligible BPS land 3. have at least 5 BPS entitlements

Greening: Crop Diversification (also known as the three crop rule), is mandatory under the BPS greening rules, which may require farmers to grow a minimum number of different...

Scientists from the Universities of Exeter and Bristol have conducted a study that shows eels are losing the fight to survive when faced with marine noise pollution such as that of passing ships.

The study, published today (August 7th) in the journal Global Change Biology, found European eels were 50% less likely to respond to an ambush from a predator, while those that did had 25% slower reaction times. Those that were pursued by a predator were caught more than twice as quickly when exposed to the noise.

Lead author Dr Steve Simpson, Senior Lecturer in Marine Biology...

Making the right decisions at retirement will make all the difference to your financial security and affect how you pass your wealth down the generations.

Tim Walker divisional director of Financial Planning at Brewin Dolphin in Exeter discusses the most common mistakes people make at this critical time and how to avoid them.

1. Retiring too early It is likely your pension will be near to its highest value when you reach retirement. However, the timing of your retirement could have a significant impact on the level of income you receive. Generally, though subject to...

Firefighters have today issued a further eight day period of strike action as the Westminster government have not improved their pension proposals.

The current proposals in England and Wales are still unworkable and mean that firefighters will still face dismissal simply because they cannot maintain the high physical fitness requirements necessary for their role until they are age 60.

The proposals would also mean that if firefighters opt for early retirement, the reduction in their pension would be unacceptably high.

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “It is...