Press Releases
Press Releases from the Policy Exchange team across a range of topics and policy departments.
For all press enquiries, please contact:
Amy Gray, Director of Communications on 0207 340 2650 or amy.gray@policyexchange.org.uk.
Recent Press Releases
James Cracknell argues for a tax on sugary drinks
This morning we published a report, Britain Imbalanced. Authored by double Olympic gold medallist, James Cracknell, the report says that a tax on sugary drinks should be introduced as part of a series of measures to combat rising levels of obesity in the UK. While acknowledging that a sugary drinks tax is not a magic bullet, the paper says that is on balance it is a sensible intervention to help prevent the rise in obesity, especially among children.
Boston is the least integrated place in the country
Today our new Demography, Immigration and Integration Unit published its inaugural Integration Index. The Index uses data from the latest census to examine ‘identity integration’. The findings reveal the 160 most/least integrated places in the country with Boston in Lincolnshire being the least integrated and Amersham in Buckinghamshire the most.
Teams of ‘data geeks’ key to the success of city devolution, says Policy Exchange
A new report,Smart Devolution, by leading think tank Policy Exchange says that most cities have vast quantities of data that if accessed and used effectively could help improve public services, optimise transport routes, support the growth of small businesses and even prevent cycling accidents.
Judges guilty of rewriting Freedom of Information laws
Judging the Public Interest shows that some senior members of the judiciary are overstepping their constitutional bounds. It examines the high profile dispute in Evans v Attorney General, concerning the disclosure of the Prince of Wales’s correspondence with ministers. The then Attorney General, Dominic Grieve QC, exercised his statutory power – the ministerial veto – to override the Upper Tribunal and block the release of the letters. His exercise of the veto was challenged in the courts and eventually quashed by the Supreme Court.
New report: Nearly a quarter of all school children in London are exposed to illegal and harmful levels of air pollution
Nearly 25% of all school children in London and 44% of the Capital’s workforce are exposed to levels of air pollution that exceed legal and healthy limits. A new report, Up in the Air, by leading think tank Policy Exchange and King’s College London, analyses data from over 100 air quality monitoring sites across London. It shows the most polluted parts of the Capital currently have levels of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) nearly four times the legal limit. The research finds that 12.5% of the total area of the Capital currently exceeds the legal limit for NO2, and that deprived parts of London are more likely to be affected.
Policy Exchange responds to the government’s “energy policy reset”
Responding to Amber Rudd’s “energy policy reset”, Policy Exchange Head of Environment & Energy Richard Howard backs the government’s broad approach, but calls for DECC to consider extra, complementary ways of meeting our future energy needs than simply building new gas power stations.
Cutting Whitehall contractors could save £1billion, says think tank
A new report by leading think tank Policy Exchange finds that after a period of restraint, the amount of money Government departments spend on external contractors has risen significantly, nearing pre-2010 levels. In 2014/15, Government departments spent £1.01 billion, up from £610 million in 2011/12. In 2009/10, the amount spent on off payroll staff was £1.5 billion.
Think tank calls for a bonfire of the energy quangos at the Spending Review
A new report by leading think tank Policy Exchange highlights the complex network of organisations that govern energy policy, regulations and rules. The paper find there are over 30 bodies responsible for the delivery of energy policy, the management of industry codes of practice and the operation of the energy system. The cost of these organisations is estimated at over £600million a year.
Take money from universities to support technical education, says Policy Exchange
New report calls on BIS to redirect £500m from universities grant funding into Further Education to boost higher level professional and technical education. Further Education should be put on a par with Higher Education with the expansion of student loans to students going to FE, as well as the introduction of maintenance support.
Onshore wind costs set to reduce dramatically making it ‘subsidy free’ by 2020
Policy Exchange says new low cost onshore wind projects should be allowed to proceed as part of the government’s drive to decarbonise at least cost .
