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5 Things You Need To Know, Today, on Thursday 18th May 2023
1. Up to one million people cancelled their broadband in the last year because of the high cost of living, a survey by Citizens Advice suggests.
The charity said those struggling could have benefitted from cheaper social-tariffs or special low-cost packages. Recently, Ofcom warned 4.3m eligible people were missing out on the deals.
2. England's water and sewage companies have made an unprecedented public apology for not "acting quickly enough" to tackle sewage spills.
In 2022, raw sewage was dumped into rivers and seas 825 times a day on average but the companies said they were ready to invest an additional £10bn, but it could mean higher bills.
3. The "default" location for workers should be in the office unless there is a good reason to work from home, the Chancellor has suggested.
Jeremy Hunt said while working remotely had produced "exciting opportunities", he was worried about "the loss of creativity" when it is permanent.
4. Britain has now missed its window of opportunity to build a battery industry, and the government, including Rishi Sunak, is largely to blame, the head of collapsed cell manufacturer Britishvolt.
The company was to be the first home-grown gigafactory, co-financed by the government and turning out electric car batteries from its plant in the North East but went into administration earlier this year.
5. The UK will benefit from almost £20bn of extra private investment from Japan, Downing Street has said, as Rishi Sunak visits the nation for the G7 summit.
The prime minister will personally thank a Japanese minister for the country's support of the UK joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).