The Government has announced a new blitz on bureaucracy that should see red tape slashed at twice the present rate. Business Minister Michael Fallon said that from January 2013, every new regulation that imposes a financial burden on a company will be offset by reductions in red tape that will save double those costs. Currently
The UK has experienced a boom in the birth rate recently and this has led to many employers having to navigate through the complex law of considering making members of their workforce redundant, some of whom may be pregnant or on maternity leave, during a tough economic climate. In employment law, a woman has a
The Government is now finalising its plans to introduce a new employment status next April in which some workers will be able to become ‘employee owners’. The scheme was announced by Chancellor George Osborne on 8th October. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is now conducting a consultation on the plans which are
A total of 300,000 new businesses have been set up in the UK, according to the latest figures from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The number rose from 4.5million at the beginning of 2011 to a record 4.8million at the start of 2012.Those 4.8 million businesses employ an estimated 23.9 million people and
Rent control is one several ideas being considered by a Commons Select Committee looking into the quality and regulation of rented housing. The committee is inviting interested parties to submit views on issues such as the quality of rented housing and how to ensure that standards remain acceptable. It will look at levels of rent,
The number of firms going out of business reached its highest level for two years in the first quarter of 2012 as the economy hit a “period of stagnation”. Figures released by the financial services firm RSM Tenon showed that more than 400 companies became insolvent every week. This was a 5% increase on the
Pubs and clubs that open late can now be made to contribute to the cost of dealing with alcohol related crime and disorder, as part of a Government clampdown on irresponsible drinking. The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 gives local authorities more discretionary power to restrict the sale of alcohol. They will also
The Government has announced a series of employment law changes designed to reduce the burden on businesses while retaining reasonable protection for employees. Ministers are planning to reduce the compensation cap for unfair dismissal claims, reduce the number of vexatious claims and promote the use of settlement agreements. However, they have decided against introducing compensated
The directive is due to be implemented next year. Businesses from all the participating member states will then be under the same obligation to ensure that invoices are paid on time. The main points in the EU Directive are: Public authorities will be required to pay suppliers within 30 calendar days of receipt of an
The Government says it will reduce health and safety regulations to promote economic growth and protect businesses from ‘compensation culture’ claims. There are more than 6,500 regulations that the Government inherited through the Red Tape Challenge Process. They intend to scrap more than 3,000. One of the key changes involves health and safety inspections. Businesses