Source: Sharecast
Water companies could be let off fines for polluting the environment under changes announced in the government’s new white paper. The environment secretary, Emma Reynolds, hailed the changes as “once-in-a-generation reforms” featuring “tough oversight, real accountability and no more excuses”. Campaigners called the proposed move to soften the approach to fines “desperate”, and said the government was letting companies off the hook. – Guardian
At least 1.5 million people have been locked out of homeownership because of Britain’s housing crisis, developers have warned. The scale of declining homeownership has been laid bare in a new report from the Home Builders Federation (HBF), which has blamed a lack of affordability among first-time buyers. – Telegraph
The UK has retained its ranking among global chief executives as the second most important market for international investment, beaten only by America, but international rivals are “gaining ground”. Last year, Britain also secured second place in the annual global CEO survey, the highest position secured by the nation in the 29-year history of the research by PwC. – The Times
More than 10,000 businesses in Britain may save time and money as a result of plans to scrap 33 outdated restrictions, the competition regulator has claimed. The Competition and Markets Authority has set out proposals to ditch so-called “remedies” that were introduced to restrict monopolists or curb other anti-competitive behaviour. – The Times