Funding Boost For Technologies Of The Future

A package of investment in the eight great technologies of the future will accelerate high-tech progress from the lab to the marketplace and help drive UK economic growth, Science and Universities Minister David Willetts has announced.

In the Mountbatten lecture, delivered at the Institution of Engineering and Technology, David Willetts set out how the UK will tackle some of the greatest challenges of our time, like climate change, energy storage, food production and population growth.

Mr Willetts also announced that a £70m Agri-Tech Catalyst, which will help new agricultural technologies bridge the so-called 'valley of death' between the lab and the marketplace, is open for bids. This will support one of the UK's largest manufacturing sectors, with the entire agri-food supply chain estimated to contribute £96bn to the UK economy and support more than 450,000 jobs.

This includes £10m from the Department for International Development to support the transfer of technology and new products to developing countries.

Builders Urged To Get Into Shape

Britain's builders are being urged to get into shape in a new health push today as Public Health Minister Jane Ellison launches the Responsibility Deal Construction Pledge with Britain's favourite builder Tommy Walsh.

The image of the bottom baring, overweight builder is being replaced by workers who are hands-on well-oiled machines who operate building sites up and down the country. To build on this, today's new pledge outlines how the construction industry will further help its workforce to lead healthier lives.

There is a range of actions that firms can take – such as regular health checks, stop-smoking clubs and healthier staff canteens.

Public Health Minister Jane Ellison said: "The construction industry is a vital part of the UK economy and it is important we do all that we can to sustain a healthy workforce.

"Builders often work in difficult and demanding environments and we must support them to ensure their health is not put at risk.

"It's great that so many firms are making the health of their staff a priority on their sites."

Police Appeal For Witnesses After Teen Is Assaulted

Merseyside Police is appealing for witnesses to come forward after a 19-year-old woman was violently assaulted in Allerton on Saturday 5 October.

Sometime between midnight and 2am on Saturday 5 October, the victim left The Other Place restaurant on Allerton Road to buy cigarettes from a petrol station on Smithdown Road. She then started to walk back to the restaurant to meet up with her friends.

Officers believe the victim was near to the junction of Allerton Road and Menlove Avenue when she was picked up in a car and subjected to a violent unprovoked attack causing significant injury.

The woman was later found by her friends in a traumatised and distressed state near to the junction of Menlove Avenue and Wembley Road. She was taken to hospital where she received treatment and was subsequently released.

Officers are particularly keen to trace two members of the public who were on Allerton Road around the time of the incident and may have information which could help them identify the offender. One of the members of the public is believed to have been leaving a nearby pizza parlour around the time of the attack and the other person, who was carrying an umbrella, was walking along the road, again near to the time of the incident.

Anyone who has any information which could help the investigation team with their inquiries can contact detectives on 0151 777 3296, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

(CD/JP)