Neil Shaw

Plug-in solar panels will become legally available to UK consumers from Thursday, with Argos among the first retailers to stock them and Amazon, Currys, B&Q, Screwfix and Wickes also expected to sell them. The kits can generate up to 800 watts and may provide as much as 20% of an average household’s electricity when sunlight is available, with estimated savings of up to £110 a year. Prices are expected to settle at roughly £400–£600. Ministers say independent safety testing found compliant systems compatible with UK wiring, although buyers may need permission from landlords, building owners or councils and may need planning consent. Owners will also be asked to register the kits so grid operators can monitor their effect on electricity supply and demand.

Research by the University of Glasgow and First Steps Nutrition Trust examined 298 wet commercial baby food products sold in UK supermarkets. It found that 60% were sold in spouted pouches and that 70% of these were marketed for babies under six months, despite recommendations that weaning begin at around six months. Researchers said many pouches contain more sugar, less protein and less energy than breast milk and resemble sweet fruit smoothies, which are not recommended for children under 12 months. They also warned that packaging claims such as “no added sugar” can be misleading and urged regulators to introduce mandatory standards for composition, marketing and labelling.