Diberdayakan oleh Blogger.

Popular Posts Today

Pension Data Sales Claims Trigger Inquiry

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 31 Maret 2015 | 16.01

An investigation has been launched by the data watchdog into claims that details of milllions of people's pensions are being sold to cold-calling firms and fraudsters.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has described the revelations as "very worrying" and said it would be speaking to regulators and police.

The allegations have reinforced concerns about an upsurge in fraud as changes are introduced giving people access to their entire pension pots.

From 6 April, people can cash in their pension savings when they retire, rather than purchase an annuity.

Details of people's salaries, the value of their investments and the size of their pensions are being sold for as little as 5p without their consent, according to the Daily Mail.

The paper said its undercover reporters were sold information about the pensions of 15,000 people without any checks being made on who they were and what they would do with the data.

The ICO has already warned the pension reforms being brought in could lead to more people being scammed.

Steve Eckersley, the head of enforcement at the ICO, said: "It suggests a frequent disregard of laws that are in place specifically to protect consumers. We will be launching an investigation immediately.

"We're aware of allegations raised against several companies involved in the cold-calling sector, and will be making inquiries to establish whether there have been any breaches of the Data Protection Act or Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations."

The ICO has the power to slap companies with fines of up to £500,000 for the most serious breaches of the Data Protection Act and can pursue criminal prosecutions around unlawfully obtaining or accessing personal data.

Mr Eckersley added: "The information we've been shown supports the work we've been doing to target the shady industry that operates behind the nuisance of cold calls and spam texts.

"We're already aware of the potential for a huge spike in the number of scam texts and calls linked to pensions when the law changes in April, and have already taken action against a company that was sending out misleading messages.

"What we've seen here confirms those fears. Personal data is such a valuable asset, particularly financial information.

"The worst case scenario here is this information getting into the wrong hands and being used to target individuals at a critical point in their financial lives."


16.01 | 0 komentar | Read More
Diposting oleh Unknown di 16.01 0 komentar

B&Q Owner To Shut 60 Stores Amid Profit Slump

The owner of B&Q has announced plans to close 60 DIY stores over the next two years.

The move comes amid a 7.5% drop in adjusted pre-tax profit of £675m for Kingfisher, a chain that operates in the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe.

Releasing its figures for the full-year ending 31 January, it said total sales were also down by 1.4%, to £10.96bn.

Kingfisher told Sky News the closures would affect poor-performing stores in the UK and Ireland and added that around 600 jobs are at risk.

It expects natural attrition to account for most of the positions, with other staff being reassigned to different parts of the group, including its builders' supplies chain Screwfix.

"Kingfisher has said for some time that B&Q UK and Ireland can adequately meet local customer needs from fewer stores and that some of the store should be smaller," it said.

Overall, its UK and Ireland operations saw sales up 5.5% in the year to £4.6bn, achieving a  retail profit of £276m.

More than half of the total sales for the London-listed firm come from its businesses on the Continent.

On Monday a planned £200m deal by the company to buy the French DIY chain Mr Bricolage collapsed.

The market responded positively to the development with shares in Kingfisher rising by 2%.

Shares were also up more than 4% in early trading after Tuesday's announcement.

Kingfisher had been looking to strengthen its position in France, where it already owns Castorama and Brico Depot.

The closures are the first major attempt at reorganisation by Veronique Laury, who took over as CEO from Sir Ian Cheshire last September.

Ms Laury was previously the boss of Castorama.

She said the entire group would undergo a strategic shake-up, with fewer product lines, greater IT integration and executive refocus.

Two years ago B&Q saw a massive sales slump which it blamed on poor weather.


16.01 | 0 komentar | Read More
Diposting oleh Unknown di 16.01 0 komentar

Honda Makes Swindon Global Hub For Civic Cars

Honda is to invest £200m in its facilities at Swindon to make it a global hub for the next generation of Civic cars.

The company said the production plant will make the five-door model for UK, Europe and "key global markets".

The carmaker added that since 1985 it has invested £2.2bn in engine and car manufacturing facilities at the site.

Engines were first produced at the Swindon plant in 1989 and cars started to roll off the line in 1992.

The facility currently has an annual production capacity of 250,000 vehicles a year.

Although the Swindon facility will produce the Civic model that goes on sale later this year, it will lose the ability to produce the CR-V compact crossover - which will be made in Ontario, Canada.

Honda UK director Jason Smith said: "As a global production facility for the Civic five-door model we look forward to making the most of the opportunity to export this model not only to our European customers, but also to key global markets."

UK trade body the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders said that including the Honda pledge, more than £1bn of investments have been promised by carmakers in the last week.

But is has been a rocky road for Honda at Swindon recently.

Last year more than 300 jobs were under threat as the manufacturer cut production.

It wanted to reduce workflow from three daily shifts to two, and blamed poor sales growth outside the UK - particularly in Europe.

At the time the Unite union pledged to fight any job losses imposed by the firm.

The new facility at Swindon is expected to employ state-of-the-art technology to improve economies of scale.

Mr Smith added that Honda was "demonstrating its long-term commitment to manufacturing in the UK and Europe".


16.01 | 0 komentar | Read More
Diposting oleh Unknown di 16.01 0 komentar

Pension Data Sales Claims Trigger Inquiry

Written By Unknown on Senin, 30 Maret 2015 | 16.01

An investigation has been launched by the data watchdog into claims that details of milllions of people's pensions are being sold to cold-calling firms and fraudsters.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has described the revelations as "very worrying" and said it would be speaking to regulators and police.

The allegations have reinforced concerns about an upsurge in fraud as changes are introduced giving people access to their entire pension pots.

From 6 April, people can cash in their pension savings when they retire, rather than purchase an annuity.

Details of people's salaries, the value of their investments and the size of their pensions are being sold for as little as 5p without their consent, according to the Daily Mail.

The paper said its undercover reporters were sold information about the pensions of 15,000 people without any checks being made on who they were and what they would do with the data.

The ICO has already warned the pension reforms being brought in could lead to more people being scammed.

Steve Eckersley, the head of enforcement at the ICO, said: "It suggests a frequent disregard of laws that are in place specifically to protect consumers. We will be launching an investigation immediately.

"We're aware of allegations raised against several companies involved in the cold-calling sector, and will be making inquiries to establish whether there have been any breaches of the Data Protection Act or Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations."

The ICO has the power to slap companies with fines of up to £500,000 for the most serious breaches of the Data Protection Act and can pursue criminal prosecutions around unlawfully obtaining or accessing personal data.

Mr Eckersley added: "The information we've been shown supports the work we've been doing to target the shady industry that operates behind the nuisance of cold calls and spam texts.

"We're already aware of the potential for a huge spike in the number of scam texts and calls linked to pensions when the law changes in April, and have already taken action against a company that was sending out misleading messages.

"What we've seen here confirms those fears. Personal data is such a valuable asset, particularly financial information.

"The worst case scenario here is this information getting into the wrong hands and being used to target individuals at a critical point in their financial lives."


16.01 | 0 komentar | Read More
Diposting oleh Unknown di 16.01 0 komentar

Miliband's NHS Pledge At Campaign Launch

Labour leader Ed Miliband has launched his party's General Election campaign with a promise to safeguard the future of the NHS.

The event in east London came after Mr Miliband and Prime Minister David Cameron answered questions in the Battle For Number 10, the first showdown of the campaign.

Launching the party's push for power in the "tightest general election in a generation", Mr Miliband said: "The Tories say this is as good as it gets.

"We say Britain can and must do better than this."

Referencing the special programme broadcast on Sky News and Channel 4, the Labour leader claimed the PM's performance showed he was "rattled", "running from his record" and "living in a different world".

The election on 7 May is a choice between "two different visions" for Britain, Mr Miliband said.

"A Tory government that looks out only for the few, or a Labour government that will stand up for working families in every part of our country," he claimed.

At the heart of the launch was a promise of a "double lock" to protect the health service.

Mr Miliband said Labour would act to ensure health services are not threatened by privatisation and pledged to provide £2.5bn in extra cash, paid for by taxes on expensive properties and tobacco companies and a crackdown on tax avoidance.

A new profit cap - usually 5% - would be imposed on outsourced healthcare contracts worth more than £500,000, private firms would be prevented from "cherry-picking" lucrative treatments and the NHS would be the "preferred provider" for all services.

Mr Miliband said: "Just think about how far backwards the NHS has gone in the last five years.

"People waiting longer and longer to see a GP. Ambulances queuing up outside hospitals, because A&E is full. Even a treatment tent erected in a hospital car park.

"For all the promises, for all the air-brushed posters, David Cameron has broken his solemn vow to the British people when it comes to our NHS."

He admitted the race for Downing Street would be neck-and-neck and could "come down to the wire".

Mr Miliband said: "I know our opponents will throw everything they have our way, because they're desperate to hang on to power.

"But we know we can win this fight on behalf of the British people."

Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy has also launched the party's campaign in Glasgow.

Addressing activists, Mr Murphy called on them to help Labour "consign David Cameron and his austerity to the dustbin of history".

In response to Mr Miliband's remarks, Conservative MP and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "We can only have a strong NHS if we have a strong economy, but Ed Miliband doesn't have an economic plan.

"We all know Labour want to 'weaponise' the NHS but this is another policy from Ed Miliband that looks ill-thought through. It risks higher infection rates, higher waiting times and chaos for our NHS.

"This incompetence is exactly why Ed Miliband is simply not up to the job."


16.01 | 0 komentar | Read More
Diposting oleh Unknown di 16.01 0 komentar

Stamp Price Rise: Royal Mail Increases Cost

The price of both first and second class stamps has increased.

The cost for first and second class stamps has risen by 1p to 63p and 54p respectively.

Sending a large letter has increased by 2p to 95p for first class and by 1p to 74p for second class.

Despite the increase, Royal Mail has insisted the prices still represent among the best value in Europe.

The firm has pointed out the European average for first class letters is 72p and 62p second class.

Announcing the price increase last month, Royal Mail said in a statement: "We have thought carefully about the impact on our customers and our own business before deciding to increase our stamped letter prices.

"We recognise how difficult it has been for householders and businesses in the recent tough economic conditions."

The privatised mail service is in a battle with commercial delivery firms and increased use of electronic communications.

Royal Mail has questioned the sustainability of the company's Universal Service Obligation (USO) under which it must deliver letters to each UK address.

It has accused rivals of "cherry-picking" - concentrating their operations in urban areas - to save on cost though the industry regulator has said it sees no reason to re-examine the obligation.


16.01 | 0 komentar | Read More
Diposting oleh Unknown di 16.01 0 komentar

Miliband's NHS Pledge At Campaign Launch

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 29 Maret 2015 | 16.01

Labour leader Ed Miliband has launched his party's General Election campaign with a promise to safeguard the future of the NHS.

The event in east London came after Mr Miliband and Prime Minister David Cameron answered questions in the Battle For Number 10, the first showdown of the campaign.

Launching the party's push for power in the "tightest general election in a generation", Mr Miliband said: "The Tories say this is as good as it gets.

"We say Britain can and must do better than this."

Referencing the special programme broadcast on Sky News and Channel 4, the Labour leader claimed the PM's performance showed he was "rattled", "running from his record" and "living in a different world".

The election on 7 May is a choice between "two different visions" for Britain, Mr Miliband said.

"A Tory government that looks out only for the few, or a Labour government that will stand up for working families in every part of our country," he claimed.

At the heart of the launch was a promise of a "double lock" to protect the health service.

Mr Miliband said Labour would act to ensure health services are not threatened by privatisation and pledged to provide £2.5bn in extra cash, paid for by taxes on expensive properties and tobacco companies and a crackdown on tax avoidance.

A new profit cap - usually 5% - would be imposed on outsourced healthcare contracts worth more than £500,000, private firms would be prevented from "cherry-picking" lucrative treatments and the NHS would be the "preferred provider" for all services.

Mr Miliband said: "Just think about how far backwards the NHS has gone in the last five years.

"People waiting longer and longer to see a GP. Ambulances queuing up outside hospitals, because A&E is full. Even a treatment tent erected in a hospital car park.

"For all the promises, for all the air-brushed posters, David Cameron has broken his solemn vow to the British people when it comes to our NHS."

He admitted the race for Downing Street would be neck-and-neck and could "come down to the wire".

Mr Miliband said: "I know our opponents will throw everything they have our way, because they're desperate to hang on to power.

"But we know we can win this fight on behalf of the British people."

Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy has also launched the party's campaign in Glasgow.

Addressing activists, Mr Murphy called on them to help Labour "consign David Cameron and his austerity to the dustbin of history".

In response to Mr Miliband's remarks, Conservative MP and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "We can only have a strong NHS if we have a strong economy, but Ed Miliband doesn't have an economic plan.

"We all know Labour want to 'weaponise' the NHS but this is another policy from Ed Miliband that looks ill-thought through. It risks higher infection rates, higher waiting times and chaos for our NHS.

"This incompetence is exactly why Ed Miliband is simply not up to the job."


16.01 | 0 komentar | Read More
Diposting oleh Unknown di 16.01 0 komentar

UK Airlines Bring In New Cockpit Safety Rules

By Charlotte Lomas-Farley, Sky News Correspondent

New safety rules have been introduced in the UK after 150 people on board the Germanwings Airbus A320 were killed when it crashed in the French Alps.

The UK's aviation regulator, the UK Civil Aviation Authority, has contacted all British airlines to get them to review all relevant procedures.

Here is a breakdown of how the safety rules affect different airlines:

:: Thomas Cook, Thomson and easyJet - from Friday, all three are changing their safety procedures to ensure that two crew members are in the cockpit at all times.

:: Virgin Atlantic and Monarch - both airlines say that while a two crew policy has always been common practice, they are in the process of making this formal policy.

If a pilot or co-pilot needs to leave the cockpit for any reason then a cabin crew member will stand in.

:: Jet2 and Flybe - both carriers already implement a two people in the cockpit at all times policy, as does Ryanair.

:: British Airways - the airline has refused to comment on the policy of its cockpit manning levels. The airline has insisted it does not discuss security issues.


16.01 | 0 komentar | Read More
Diposting oleh Unknown di 16.01 0 komentar

Google Can Be Sued In The UK Over Web Tracking

Google has lost a Court of Appeal battle to stop British consumers from suing it in the UK.

A group called Safari Users Against Google's Secret Tracking accuse Google of bypassing security settings on Apple's browser to track their online browsing and to target them with personalised advertisements.

On Friday three appeal judges dismissed Google's appeal over a High Court ruling against it, and ruled claims for damages can be brought over allegations of misuse of private information.

The ruling is a victory for the group of Safari users who have complained about the "clandestine" tracking of their internet use between summer 2011 and early 2012.

The group says Google collected private information without their knowledge using cookies - the text saved on computers and other devices to identify a user to Google.

Dan Tench, a partner at law firm Olswang, which represents the group, said the case decides "whether British consumers actually have any right to hold Google to account in this country".

The appeal judges unanimously ruled that misuse of private information was a civil wrong, enabling legal action to go ahead.

The judgement said: "On the face of it, these claims raise serious issues which merit a trial.

"They concern what is alleged to have been the secret and blanket tracking and  collation of information, often of an extremely private nature... about and associated with the claimants' internet use, and the subsequent use of that information for about nine months.

"The case relates to the anxiety and distress this intrusion upon autonomy has caused."


16.01 | 0 komentar | Read More
Diposting oleh Unknown di 16.01 0 komentar

Miliband's NHS Pledge At Campaign Launch

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 28 Maret 2015 | 16.01

Labour leader Ed Miliband has launched his party's General Election campaign with a promise to safeguard the future of the NHS.

The event in east London came after Mr Miliband and Prime Minister David Cameron answered questions in the Battle For Number 10, the first showdown of the campaign.

Launching the party's push for power in the "tightest general election in a generation", Mr Miliband said: "The Tories say this is as good as it gets.

"We say Britain can and must do better than this."

Referencing the special programme broadcast on Sky News and Channel 4, the Labour leader claimed the PM's performance showed he was "rattled", "running from his record" and "living in a different world".

The election on 7 May is a choice between "two different visions" for Britain, Mr Miliband said.

"A Tory government that looks out only for the few, or a Labour government that will stand up for working families in every part of our country," he claimed.

At the heart of the launch was a promise of a "double lock" to protect the health service.

Mr Miliband said Labour would act to ensure health services are not threatened by privatisation and pledged to provide £2.5bn in extra cash, paid for by taxes on expensive properties and tobacco companies and a crackdown on tax avoidance.

A new profit cap - usually 5% - would be imposed on outsourced healthcare contracts worth more than £500,000, private firms would be prevented from "cherry-picking" lucrative treatments and the NHS would be the "preferred provider" for all services.

Mr Miliband said: "Just think about how far backwards the NHS has gone in the last five years.

"People waiting longer and longer to see a GP. Ambulances queuing up outside hospitals, because A&E is full. Even a treatment tent erected in a hospital car park.

"For all the promises, for all the air-brushed posters, David Cameron has broken his solemn vow to the British people when it comes to our NHS."

He admitted the race for Downing Street would be neck-and-neck and could "come down to the wire".

Mr Miliband said: "I know our opponents will throw everything they have our way, because they're desperate to hang on to power.

"But we know we can win this fight on behalf of the British people."

Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy has also launched the party's campaign in Glasgow.

Addressing activists, Mr Murphy called on them to help Labour "consign David Cameron and his austerity to the dustbin of history".

In response to Mr Miliband's remarks, Conservative MP and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "We can only have a strong NHS if we have a strong economy, but Ed Miliband doesn't have an economic plan.

"We all know Labour want to 'weaponise' the NHS but this is another policy from Ed Miliband that looks ill-thought through. It risks higher infection rates, higher waiting times and chaos for our NHS.

"This incompetence is exactly why Ed Miliband is simply not up to the job."


16.01 | 0 komentar | Read More
Diposting oleh Unknown di 16.01 0 komentar
techieblogger.com Techie Blogger Techie Blogger
Langganan: Postingan (Atom)