Monday newspaper round-up: UK airports, British ports, business confidence, GSK

by | Mar 8, 2021

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The Trades Union Congress and Heathrow have called on the government to cover UK airports’ operating costs while travel bans are in place, and to extend the furlough scheme for as long as public health measures affect aviation, in a joint call for “survival support”. They said the demand for financial help and other measures were a matter of survival for businesses in the sector, after a budget in which Heathrow accused the chancellor of ignoring aviation and failing to understand the sector’s role. – Guardian
A string of British ports are urging the government to delay the next wave of Brexit red tape, saying that border checkposts will not be ready for the July deadline, while inland customs facilities being built are also behind schedule. With the Brexit minister, Lord Frost, reportedly considering reviewing plans for full customs checks on all imported goods, pressure is building on ministers to push back their deadlines, and set out measures for scaling back controls. – Guardian

A string of British ports are urging the government to delay the next wave of Brexit red tape, saying that border checkposts will not be ready for the July deadline, while inland customs facilities being built are also behind schedule. With the Brexit minister, Lord Frost, reportedly considering reviewing plans for full customs checks on all imported goods, pressure is building on ministers to push back their deadlines, and set out measures for scaling back controls. – Telegraph

Business confidence has risen to a 12-month-high in Britain’s crucial services sector as the vaccine roll-out continues to pick up speed and companies prepare for a return to normal. The BDO Services Optimism Index hit 94.13 in February, up from 86.6 in January, as businesses were given “a much-needed shot of relief” by the ongoing vaccination efforts in the country. Services dominate the UK economy and include retail, hospitality and finance. – Telegraph

 
 

Payments to doctors from GlaxoSmithKline have almost doubled since Dame Emma Walmsley became chief executive after the drugs company reversed policies introduced at the time of a bribery scandal in China. Glaxo, one of Britain’s two big pharmaceuticals groups, spent £19.3 million in 2019, up from £9.9 million in 2017, across the United States and European markets, according to figures collated by The Times from transparency documentation. – The Times

BP has told at least 25,000 staff around the world that they will be expected to work from home for two days per week after the pandemic in a permanent shift to flexible working. The oil major told its office-based employees to work from home after Covid-19 hit a year ago and in recent weeks told them that most will never return full-time to the office. – The Times

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