Keeping the UK moving


Book Description

This report examines how snow chaos in December 2010 closed Heathrow, disabled parts of the rail network and disrupted many roads. More can and should be done to ensure UK transport networks continue to operate in severe winter weather, the Commons Transport Committee finds. The welfare of air and rail passenger must be taken more seriously and better real time information must be provided to road users. In its report the Transport Committee calls for additional investment and coordination by government to: ensure the final version of the Department for Transport's Climate change Adaptation Plan refers to the future risk of severe winter weather; improve resilience of the third rail network south of the Thames, with a long term aim to install a more resilient method of electrification; oversee airport planning for major incidents including snow chaos, particularly at Heathrow and review airport regulations to ensure they take account of this; permit airport operators to reclaim the cost of looking after stranded passengers when airlines fail to discharge their responsibility to do this; provide better online advice for individuals and communities about tackling problems arising from severe winter weather; launch a high profile campaign to increase the proportion of motorists taking precautions for driving in winter weather; develop clearer snow and ice risk travel warnings for freight vehicles similar to those for strong winds; investigate the case to provide the Met Office with more money to improve its long range forecasting capability sufficient to improve the way transport operators can warn passengers.




Keep It Moving


Book Description

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER One of the world’s legendary artists and bestselling author of The Creative Habit shares her secrets—from insight to action—for harnessing vitality, finding purpose as you age, and expanding one’s possibilities over the course of a lifetime in her newest New York Times bestseller Keep It Moving. At seventy-eight, Twyla Tharp is revered not only for the dances she makes—but for her astounding regime of exercise and nonstop engagement. She is famed for religiously hitting the gym each morning at daybreak, and utilizing that energy to propel her breakneck schedule as a teacher, writer, creator, and lecturer. This book grew out of the question she was asked most frequently: “How do you keep working?” Keep It Moving is a series of no-nonsense mediations on how to live with purpose as time passes. From the details of how she stays motivated to the stages of her evolving fitness routine, Tharp models how fulfillment depends not on fortune—but on attitude, possible for anyone willing to try and keep trying. Culling anecdotes from Twyla’s life and the lives of other luminaries, each chapter is accompanied by a small exercise that will help anyone develop a more hopeful and energetic approach to the everyday. Twyla will tell you what the beauty-fitness-wellness industry won’t: chasing youth is a losing proposition. Instead, Keep It Moving focuses you on what’s here and where you’re going—the book for anyone who wishes to maintain their prime for life.




Your Guide to Relocating to the United Kingdom


Book Description

Are you considering a move to the United Kingdom? Whether it's for career opportunities, education, or a fresh start, relocating to a new country is an exciting yet complex journey. "Your Guide to Relocating to the United Kingdom" by William Jones is your indispensable companion, providing you with a comprehensive, step-by-step handbook to ensure a smooth and successful transition to the UK. In this meticulously crafted guide, William Jones draws from his extensive experience as an expatriate and relocation expert to offer invaluable insights and practical advice on every aspect of your move to the United Kingdom. Inside this book, you'll discover: Making the Decision: Explore the motivations and considerations behind your move, and ensure it aligns with your personal and professional aspirations. Preparation and Planning: Gain a head start with detailed checklists, financial preparations, and tips on finding the right resources for a seamless transition. Navigating Immigration: Demystify the UK's immigration system, understanding visa options, and uncovering strategies for a hassle-free application process. Finding Suitable Accommodation: Navigate the UK's diverse housing market, whether you're looking to rent or buy, with expert advice on making well-informed choices. Employment and Education: Unlock the doors to career opportunities and education excellence, with tips on job hunting, furthering your education, and career advancement. Settling In and Adapting: Learn how to adapt to your new environment, embrace British culture, and build a support network that will help you thrive. Legal and Social Aspects: Navigate legalities, healthcare, finances, and your rights as a resident of the UK with confidence. Cultural and Lifestyle Adjustments: Discover the nuances of British life, from social etiquette to entertainment options, and enrich your experience as you settle in. Staying Connected: Maintain strong ties with loved ones back home and establish connections within your new community to ensure emotional well-being and a sense of belonging. Future Planning: Secure your financial future, advance your career, plan for your family, and prepare for a comfortable retirement within the UK's dynamic landscape. "Your Guide to Relocating to the United Kingdom" is more than just a handbook; it's your roadmap to a successful and fulfilling life in the UK. William Jones' expert guidance and insightful tips will empower you to make the most of this transformative journey, whether you're embarking on a temporary adventure or planning to make the UK your permanent home. Embark on your journey to the United Kingdom with the confidence of thorough preparation and the excitement of new beginnings. This guide is your key to a seamless and enriching relocation experience, ensuring that your future in the UK is a prosperous and rewarding one.




Aviation strategy


Book Description

In this report the Transport Committee reject calls for a new hub airport east of London and urges the expansion of Heathrow where a third runway is long overdue. Building an entirely new hub airport east of London could not be done without huge public investment in new ground transport infrastructure, and there could be a substantial impact on wildlife habitat in the Thames estuary. The viability of an estuary hub airport would also require the closure of Heathrow - a course of action that would have unacceptable consequences. Adding new runways to expand a number of other existing airports will not, on its own, provide a long-term solution to the hub capacity problem. The report also rejects the notion of linking existing airports by high-speed rail to form a split-hub; the outcome from this would be highly uncompetitive in terms of passenger transfer times compared to competitor hubs overseas. Other recommendations cover: compensation for people affected by noise from expansion at Heathrow; a national strategy to improve road and rail access to major UK airports; ensure that the High Speed 2 (HS2) rail network serves Heathrow and develop dedicated rail services to serve Gatwick and Stansted; study how far Air Passenger Duty impacts on the UK economy; carry out an objective analysis of the impacts of introducing differential rates of Air Passenger Duty; promotion of airports in regions outside the south east and introduce an APD tax holiday for a 12-month trial period for new services from them.




Keep Moving


Book Description

The NATIONAL BESTSELLER from the author of YOU COULD MAKE THIS PLACE BEAUTIFUL “A meditation on kindness and hope, and how to move forward through grief.” —NPR “A shining reminder to learn all we can from this moment, rebuilding ourselves in the darkness so that we may come out wiser, kinder, and stronger on the other side.” —The Boston Globe “Powerful essays on loss, endurance, and renewal.” —People For fans of Glennon Doyle, Cheryl Strayed, and Anne Lamott, a collection of quotes and essays on facing life’s challenges with creativity, courage, and resilience. When Maggie Smith, the award-winning author of the viral poem “Good Bones,” started writing inspirational daily Twitter posts in the wake of her divorce, they unexpectedly caught fire. In this deeply moving book of quotes and essays, Maggie writes about new beginnings as opportunities for transformation. Like kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending broken ceramics with gold, Keep Moving celebrates the beauty and strength on the other side of loss. This is a book for anyone who has gone through a difficult time and is wondering: What comes next?




Draft Civil Aviation Bill


Book Description

The draft Civil Aviation Bill proposes to transfer some 90 security regulation posts currently within the Department for Transport to the Civil Aviation Authority. The £5 million annual cost would also transfer - from the taxpayer to airports and, ultimately, to air passengers. In this report the Transport Committee warns the Government to ensure that the viability of smaller airports is not put at risk by the costs of new public information requirements and security changes proposed in the Bill. The Committee also calls for Ministers to take a more comprehensive approach to improving the air passenger experience, including services provided by the UK Borders Agency. Recommendations include: that public information requirements imposed on airports by the CAA do not generate unnecessary bureaucracy or cost and be clearly related to matters of importance to airline passengers; the special position of airlines, as the direct customers of airports, be recognised in the Bill; the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) be given a secondary duty toward airlines, in recognition of their special position as primary customers of airports; measures are put in place to ensure the Competition Commission (or other relevant bodies) can strike out 'vexatious or frivolous appeals' mounted by airline or airports against licensing conditions.




House of Commons - Transport Committee: Ready and waiting? Transport Preparations for Winter Weather - HC 681


Book Description

The last few years have seen a number of periods when severe weather has led to widespread travel disruption, exposing a lack of preparedness across all modes of transport in terms of infrastructure, resources, and looking after the interests of passengers. Pro-active decision-making by rail and aviation operators to reduce or cancel services ahead of a major event has reduced disruption. However there is scope for further improvement. The Highways Agency should review the barriers to providing comprehensive realtime information to drivers. The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) should ensure that train operating companies develop more robust procedures to identify how long a period of disruption is likely to last and to communicate this clearly to passengers. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) should set out how it will evaluate the impact of the new airport licence conditions on passenger welfare, by Spring 2015. The CAA must also ensure that best practice on the provision of information and on passenger welfare is shared across all UK airports. The availability of salt for gritting roads has improved with the establishment of the strategic salt reserve. More, though, should be done to keep pavements clear of ice and snow. However, winter weather is about more than just snow, as illustrated by the 'St Jude' storm across southern England and the more recent storm stranding thousands at Gatwick. The transport sector must continue to work closely with the Met Office and other forecasters. Finally, embedding a culture of continuous review and improvement must remain a priority.




Staying the Course


Book Description

Staying the Course is about a college that many describe as being the way colleges used to be: beautiful, well-maintained buildings and grounds; caring, capable faculty; administrators who manage frugally and compassionately; a bright, energetic president willing to dedicate his life to assuring a solid future for the institution; and students who study hard and work hard to serve those in need. Still the college struggles to maintain what it has built and to increase its endowment, small by comparison to many private institutions, at the same time it continues to hold tuition low and provide funding to students who, even with Pell grants, need extra help to go to and stay in college. How the college is managing to build a sustainable financial base is described in chapters focusing on the kinds of students who attend, the faculty who teach, the administrators who oversee the multiple programs that support the students as well as design new courses and new ways of teaching, the trustees who guide the college, and the president who has stayed long enough to see many of his dreams for the college realized, to shape new dreams and to raise the funding that makes those dreams realities. The college still struggles in many ways but its struggles are far less than they would be without the lessons the institution has learned and is offering to other small, private colleges facing similar difficult circumstances. With the many stories about the sad state of higher education today, this book contradicts those stories with its description of how merging the values of the past with the information and strategies available today can enable a small college in a region of poverty and with a population of students with limited financial resources to rise above those threats and limitations to become a model for the future of such institutions.




HC 287 - Government Motoring Agencies - the User Perspective


Book Description

The Government's motoring agencies are undergoing reorganisation and are introducing digital services; both changes have potential to bring welcome improvements. The Government has a mixed approach to organisational change in the agencies with different emphasis on efficiency savings, restructuring, and private sector involvement across the agencies. It needs to do more to explain the future direction for all the motoring agencies and how it will create a more unified service. The agencies could do more to recognise and respond to the needs of business users. There are a number of specific areas that require action by the Government and its motoring agencies: the driver Certificate of Professional Competence may not be delivering all the benefits expected of it and the Government should negotiate changes at a European level; the agencies need to have effective assisted digital strategies in place to help those who cannot or are unwilling to use the internet to access services; the agencies need to work with the Government Digital Service and others to address the problem of misleading copycat websites; the DVLA needs to do more to explain how it is required to share personal data with private parking companies and the safeguards that are in place to protect such data; the DVLA needs to adjust it's fees to ensure costs are covered and do more to explain it's calculations; and data sharing needs to be effective, if revenue collection, action on safety and work by enforcement agencies are to be effective, and new services need to be planned with data sharing in mind




The future of the UK's strategic nuclear deterrent


Book Description

future of the UK's strategic nuclear Deterrent : The White Paper, ninth report of session 2006-07, Vol. 2: Oral and written Evidence