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The years 1860 to 1960 witnessed the birth and rapid expansion of the modern pulp and paper industry. Its sine qua non was access to enormous volumes of conifer trees that grew in the northern hemisphere’s temperate and boreal forests. Predictably, countries in northern Europe with large swaths of these woodlands became home to substantial pulp and paper industries. This article explains why Great Britain represented Europe’s glaring exception to this rule. Unique circumstances allowed it to become Europe’s largest newsprint producer even though it suffered from a dearth of conifers. Britain’s newspaper publishers grew their circulations and created the largest newsprint market in Europe for most of the period under examination. To meet their exploding demand for paper, they gained control over their country’s newsprint industry. Like producers in other western European countries, they looked to Scandinavia to address their lack of domestic wood supplies, but they also exploited their imperial connection to access a prodigious supply of fibre and pulps in Canada and Newfoundland. Britain’s competitive advantage in this regard was political and not economic because tapping this distant source of raw materials was costly. Nevertheless, British producers were able to absorb the higher costs because their business was vertically integrated. However, British producers could not outrun their resource deficit forever. Changing global industry conditions after World War II caused them to lose their preponderant standing.

The article analyzes the regulatory support of non-formal adult education in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland through the main types of legal acts of the governments of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The adult education system in this country is characterized, which is represented by formal and non-formal education institutions, associations, councils, and committees on adult education. It is emphasized that in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the reform of adult education is aimed at the formation of the necessary professional skills; improvement of employment prospects; modernization of the existing educational system in accordance with employers’ requests; establishment of the financial support programme, which will promote the non-formal learning opportunities for the adult population. It is noted that in each country of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), the development of non-formal adult education has specific features: a high degree of autonomy for all providers, cooperation and partnership between educational institutions and employers, etc. The non-formal education providers are also presented (non-profit, charitable, private organisations, universities, colleges, and other educational institutions). The conclusion is made that, the reform of adult education has been put front and centre by the British government; it is presented by regulatory and legal acts in each country and is aimed at promoting the lifelong learning.

The forests of Great Britain (GB) are an important resource, which are under threat from climate change and exotic pests and diseases. The forest sector has been proactive in launching initiatives and supporting activities to improve the resistance and resilience of forests in GB. These interventions can be directed at forests at a range of scales, from genetic to national. This article describes the range of potential and actual actions focused on adapting Britain’s forests to climate change and damage from pests and diseases. However, there are also barriers to improving the resilience of forests in GB and these are also discussed.

Poor diets are the major cause of death and disease globally, driving high levels of obesity and noncommunicable diseases. Cheap, heavily marketed, ultra-processed, energy-dense and nutrient-poor food and drinks that are high in fat, sugar and salt play a major role. The high-sugar content of these products leads to consumption levels much higher than recommended. The World Health Organization recommends that sugar intake should be reduced to just 5% of energy intake by using fiscal policies and food and drink reformulation strategies. Over the previous decade, the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has implemented several policies aimed at reducing sugar intake. We compare the soft drinks industry levy and the sugar reduction programme, examining how differences in policy design and process may have influenced the outcomes. Success has been mixed: the mandatory levy achieved a reduction in total sugar sales of 34.3%, and the voluntary reduction programme only achieved a 3.5% reduction in sugar levels of key contributors to sugar intake (despite a target of 20%). Both policies can be improved to enhance their impact, for example, by increasing the levy and reducing the sugar content threshold in the soft drinks industry levy, and by setting more stringent subcategory specific targets in the sugar reduction programme. We also recommend that policy-makers should consider applying a similar levy to other discretionary products that are key contributors to sugar intake. Both approaches provide valuable learnings for future policy in the United Kingdom and globally. La malnutrition est l'une des principales causes de deces et de pathologies dans le monde, entrainant des taux eleves d'obesite et un grand nombre de maladies non transmissibles. Massivement commercialises, les aliments et boissons bon marche, ultra-transformes, riches en energie et pauvres en nutriments, a forte teneur en graisse, en sucre et en sel jouent un role majeur. La quantite de sucre contenue dans ces produits engendre une consommation qui depasse largement les recommandations en la matiere. L'Organisation mondiale de la Sante conseille de reduire la proportion de sucre afin que ce dernier ne represente plus que 5% de l'apport energetique grace a des politiques fiscales et des strategies de revision de la composition des aliments et des boissons. Au cours des dix dernieres annees, le gouvernement du Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bretagne et d'Irlande du Nord a adopte plusieurs politiques visant a reduire la consommation de sucre. Dans le present document, nous comparons la taxe sur l'industrie des sodas avec le programme de reduction du sucre, en examinant comment les differences de conception et de mise en oeuvre des politiques pourraient avoir influence les resultats. Le succes s'est revele mitige: la taxe obligatoire a permis de faire chuter le total des ventes de sucre de 34,3%, alors que le programme de baisse volontaire n'a pas permis de faire diminuer ce taux de plus de 3,5% chez les acteurs cles de l'apport en sucre (bien loin des 20% cibles). Les deux politiques peuvent etre ameliorees pour renforcer leur impact, par exemple en augmentant la taxe et en reduisant la teneur en sucre maximale applicable a l'industrie des sodas, mais aussi en definissant des objectifs specifiques plus stricts dans les sous-categories du programme de reduction du sucre. Nous encourageons en outre les responsables politiques a instaurer une taxe similaire sur d'autres produits non essentiels qui contribuent eux aussi a la consommation de sucre. Les deux approches fournissent des renseignements precieux pour de futures mesures au Royaume-Uni et partout dans le monde. Las dietas inadecuadas son la principal causa de muerte y enfermedad en todo el mundo. Ademas, impulsan altos niveles de obesidad y enfermedades no transmisibles. Los alimentos y las bebidas baratos, muy comercializados, ultraprocesados, hipercaloricos y pobres en nutrientes, con un alto contenido en grasas, azucar y sal, desempenan una funcion importante. El alto contenido en azucar de estos productos conduce a niveles de consumo muy superiores a los recomendados. La Organizacion Mundial de la Salud recomienda reducir el consumo de azucar a solo el 5% de la ingesta energetica mediante politicas fiscales y estrategias de reformulacion de alimentos y bebidas. En la ultima decada, el gobierno del Reino Unido de Gran Bretana e Irlanda del Norte ha aplicado varias politicas encaminadas a reducir la ingesta de azucar. Comparamos el impuesto del sector de las bebidas no alcoholicas y el programa de reduccion del azucar, examinando como las diferencias en el diseno y el proceso de las politicas pueden haber influido en los resultados. El exito ha sido desigual: el impuesto obligatorio logro una reduccion de las ventas totales de azucar del 34,3%, y el programa de reduccion voluntaria solo consiguio una reduccion del 3,5% en los niveles de azucar de los principales contribuyentes a la ingesta de azucar (a pesar de un objetivo del 20%). Se pueden mejorar ambas politicas para aumentar su impacto, por ejemplo, aumentando el impuesto y reduciendo el umbral de contenido de azucar en el impuesto del sector de las bebidas no alcoholicas, y estableciendo objetivos especificos por subcategorias mas estrictos en el programa de reduccion de azucar. Tambien recomendamos a los responsables de formular las politicas que estudien la posibilidad de aplicar un impuesto similar a otros productos discrecionales que contribuyen decisivamente a la ingesta de azucar. Ambos enfoques aportan valiosas ensenanzas para las futuras politicas del Reino Unido y del resto del mundo. [phrase omitted], Introduction Excessive sugar consumption, increasing the risk of weight gain, is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, certain noncommunicable diseases and 13 types of cancer. (1,2) There [...]

Abstract Background Vaping products are effective for helping people to stop smoking and may therefore offer a potential means to reduce high rates of smoking in socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. This study aimed to examine current patterns and perceptions of vaping among people living in social housing in Great Britain compared with those living in other housing types. Methods Data were from the Smoking Toolkit Study; a nationally-representative survey conducted in 2023 (n = 23,245). Logistic regression tested cross-sectional associations between living in social (vs. other) housing and current vaping among adults; vaping frequency, device type, nicotine concentration, and source of purchase among current vapers; use of vaping products as a smoking cessation aid among past-year smokers who tried to quit; and harm perceptions of vaping products relative to cigarettes among current smokers. Results Current vaping prevalence was twice as high among adults living in social housing (19.4%) compared with those in other housing types (10.4%; OR = 2.07, 95%CI = 1.84–2.33). This was partly explained by differences in sociodemographic characteristics and smoking status; after adjustment, the odds of being a current vaper were 33% higher (ORadj=1.33, 95%CI = 1.14–1.54). Among vapers, there were no notable differences by housing tenure in vaping frequency, main device type used, usual nicotine concentration, usual source of purchase, or use as a smoking cessation aid. However, current smokers living in social housing were more likely to think vaping is more harmful than cigarettes (31.6% vs. 21.8%; ORadj=1.61, 95%CI = 1.30–1.99). Conclusions In Great Britain, adults who live in social housing are more likely to vape than those who live in other housing types, even after accounting for their younger age and higher smoking rates. However, misperceptions about the relative harms of vaping products and tobacco are common among smokers living in social housing. Interventions addressing these misperceptions could help encourage more people living in social housing to switch from smoking to vaping and reduce smoking-related health inequalities. Pre-registration The study protocol and analysis plan were pre-registered on Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/n3mvs/).

Economic inequality is one of the most debated issues in economic science. It is known that politicians have to choose between efficiency and equality, and decisions, which are finally made by them, influence social stability in a state. The factors of income inequality in Great Britain are analyzed in the present article. Regression analysis shows that the main cause of growing market income inequality in the UK in the latest decades is decreasing employment in the British industrial sector. Moreover, shifts in employment in industry directly and indirectly affects other factors of income inequality. Employment in industrial sector is also, in its turn, influenced by technological development and globalization. A combination of factors, having impact on employment in the British secondary sector and, as a consequence, on market income distribution in the UK, is analyzed in the paper.

The demand for knowledge about the economic spatial structure has increased a lot in recent decades. This is thanks to the establishment of the European Economic Communities and the territorial organizations experienced worldwide. This interest is shown by the fact that more and more universities, research institutes and scientific societies are putting this field at the center of their investigations. The main goal of the research work is to analyze the main macro-level economic and social processes in Great Britain and the factors that influence them. During the research work, secondary data from state internet databases operated and maintained by the United Kingdom. Among the online databases, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) site, which prepares statistical reports, and Migration Watch UK, which provides data on migration processes, can be highlighted. The given topic is very timely even today, since in recent years the wave caused by Brexit has turned many people's interest towards the fate of the British nation. All three countries in Great Britain showed population growth between the 2011 and 2021 censuses. The highest percentage increase was in England where the population increased by 3.4 million, a rise of 6.5% between 2011 and 2021. The exceptional increase in the population of England compared to Wales and Scotland is mainly due to workers immigrating to England and their family members. The fertility rate has been decreasing since 2012 and is currently 1.61, so net migration has been the main driver of population change since the 1990s. Since 2001, 84% of the average annual population growth is due to immigration, but the effect is unevenly distributed in space. Immigrants now make up 5 million of the capital's total population of 9 million, i.e. approximately 55%. Overall, it can be said and statistically demonstrated that in the economy of the island nation, a significant, positive, close connection can be shown between the destination of immigrants' settlement and economic development. Great Britain's economy is "doing good" and influenced in a positive direction by the large number of qualified economic residents.

Flashiness refers to the rapidity and frequency of fluctuations in river flow. It can provide insights into flooding, by capturing dramatic increases in river flow, as well as contaminant transport, relating to concentrations of diffuse pollution. Despite a very well gauged river system, there is limited research in Great Britain targeting this component of river flow. This study addresses that gap in knowledge, with a detailed spatio-temporal analysis of river flashiness in Great Britain. Using 513 gauging stations, with historical records of at least 30 years, the average Richards–Baker flashiness index (RBI¯) was calculated for 1990–2020, showing an overall west- (0.6–0.8) to east-coast (0.1–0.2) gradient, being higher in the west (with the exception of some gauges in the south-east). Employing random forest models, the main predictor for flashiness was found to be soil composition, with some additional region-specific predictors. These include flood attenuation by reservoirs and catchment areas, affecting flashiness in the north and west of Great Britain. Additionally, using a subset of 208 gauging stations with data recorded from 1970 to 2020, a temporal analysis examined significant breakpoints and/or trends in yearly flashiness, using the Pettitt test and Mann–Kendall trend test, respectively. Increases in flashiness were found mainly in the north-east and south-west of Great Britain, with implications in flooding and river health. On a seasonal scale, and using a monthly RBI¯, the timing of flashy events was found to oscillate between autumn and spring over the 50 years, gravitating around winter.

The article focuses on the political shift in the UK following the Conservative Party's poor polling, leading Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to call for an early election on July 4, 2024. Topics include Labour leader Keir Starmer's significant electoral victory, the impact of the Conservative Party's 14 years in power marked by challenges such as Brexit and public services, and the appointment of John Healey as Defense Minister, who pledged continued military support for Ukraine.

On the 5th of March 2013, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) issued warnings regarding elevated pollution levels. Air pollution were reported in various regions of England, thereby influencing consumer behavior significantly. In response to the inconveniences and health threats posed by air pollution, individuals may alter their behavior to contribute to environmental improvement and mitigate the risks of potential future disasters. This study employs a difference-in-difference model, incorporating a two-way fixed effect model, to explore the repercussions of air pollution on consumer behavior. The findings suggest severe air pollution increase reliance on public transportation, as well as heighten inclination towards walking and cycling for short journeys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Region: The study covers sites across Great Britain. Study Focus: Soil moisture information is important for a range of applications including flood and drought monitoring, seasonal hydrological forecasting, and agricultural management. However, spatially distributed soil moisture estimates for sub-surface soils are scarce despite their importance. The Grid-to-Grid hydrological model (G2G) was primarily developed to simulate river flows at a national scale, but can also output simulated depth-integrated soil moisture on a 1 km grid. Here, we evaluate G2G soil moisture simulations against in situ neutron probe (NP) observations at 85 sites across Great Britain, to evaluate whether modelled soil moisture outputs have value and to identify areas for improvement. New Hydrological Insights for the Region:: Despite large uncertainties in observed soil moisture within a site, there was a good temporal correlation between observed and modelled soil moisture, with Pearson correlation values exceeding 0.7 for 77% of sites. However, the model tended to under-predict soil moisture values (median bias of −12 cm/m) and over-predict variation (median standard deviation error of 2 cm/m). Model agreement with observations was generally better for areas with deep or mid-depth mineral soils and worst in areas of peat. Based on this evaluation against NP observations, we demonstrate that G2G soil moisture is a useful resource for estimating relative wetness of the soil, but not necessarily the soil moisture content values themselves.

The formation of cultural characteristics of a nation as well as the peculiarities of its worldview and ethnic psychology are largely influenced by the geographical factor which comprises the location of a country, its climate, the access or absence of access to seas, oceans, etc. One of relatively new terms in the Russian and foreign humanities is “insularity” which is understood as “isolated origin,” or “island location,” or “the island effect.” The notion of insularity is not only constituted by the fact of geographic isolation, but it also includes certain cultural, political, and ethnocultural features. The study aims to analyze the effect of the geographic insulation of Great Britain and Japan on the formation of island mentality and specific socio-cultural characteristics of these two island nations. The authors discuss the defining role of the geographical factor in the formation of the aforesaid characteristics of the British and the Japanese. The article particularly focuses on the study of national character traits typical of the two insular cultures. The study argues that the insular location of Great Britain and Japan as well as the climatic and natural conditions of these countries not only predetermined the specifics of human settlement and their economy but also shaped the mentality and worldviews of the people inhabiting the islands. The key factor in forming the national identity of both the British and the Japanese is the image of the Other, the image of the enemy. The distinction between the Self and the Other has underpinned a number of key national values. At the same time, the insular cultures of the UK and Japan display certain differences. Japan is a country with a distinct hierarchical social organization in which respect for older people and superiors is a key cultural characteristic. In contrast, the UK has a less hierarchical individualistic society. Furthermore, Japan is more conventional from the point of view of its cultural and religious institutions, norms and values. In its turn, the UK is more modern and possesses an ability to flexibly incorporate other cultural traits and new ideas. Finally, Japanese culture focuses more on collectivist practices whereas the UK being partly under the influence of European mentality is more oriented towards individualism and personal freedom.

The article is devoted to British child migration in the 19th – first half of the 20th century. The reasons, conditions for moving, the importance attached to the resettlement of young people on the periphery of the British world are investigated. It is shown that philanthropic, socio-economic factors as well as imperialist, national, and racial reasons influenced migration policy. The emphasis changed over time. Until the middle of the 19th century the resettlement was caused by a desire to help poor children or to deport unnecessary and dangerous residents from the metropolis; in the second half of the 19th century migrants began to be seen as an instrument of imperial policy. Migration was consistent with the doctrine of social imperialism. It made it possible to solve the social problems of the metropolis, relieved tension in society that were associated with mass unemployment, and opened up new opportunities for the economic growth of the entire Empire. The youth made up for the shortage of labor resources in the dominions, cultivated undeveloped lands, spread European values and technologies, consolidated disparate residents into single Great Britain with its global British identity. The resettlement of minors from dirty and cramped cities to rural areas was believed to offer an opportunity to preserve a healthy generation and the strength of the Anglo-Saxon nation. In the countries of the southern hemisphere, migrants from Albion were seen as defenders of the white race and European civilization. That is why in the late 19th century, the requirements for resettlement were tightened, allowing only the “proper” type of migrant according to racial, social, physiological, and mental criteria. Many migrants achieved success in their new homeland, but some of them faced cruelty, exploitation, and social ostracism. It is concluded that the idea of Great Britain as a global community turned out to be untenable after the Second World War. Imperial goals increasingly contradicted national objectives, which led to the cessation of child migration. Deprived of their homeland and ties with their relatives, unable to adapt to new places, child migrants who turned into adults become an embarrassing reminder of the “dark page” of the imperial past.