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The number of children abducted from the UK by their parents has doubled in the last 10 years, according to official figures from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). In 2003-04, the FCO dealt with 272 parental child abduction and international custody cases. This figure had risen to 580 in 2012-13. That is the second
The pay gap between men and women has widened for the first time since 2008. Figures released by the Office for National Statistics show that women earn £5,000 less on average. The difference is calculated on median hourly earnings for full time workers. The median wage gap increased from 9.5% to 10% in the last
The director of an insolvent company has been ordered to return money he paid to himself at a time when he knew the business was struggling and likely to fail. The case involved the director of a company specialising in waste management projects. The business got into financial difficulties and started to build up debts
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in the UK are failing to invoice their clients for up to £3.7billion a year, according to recent research. Even though businesses are battling through a difficult economic climate, 20% admit they have forgotten to invoice for work on at least one occasion. Of the 450 SMEs surveyed, 6% admitted
An installation company has won compensation from a firm of surveyors who were negligent when assessing the suitability of properties for cavity wall insulation. The installers won their case even though they had been negligent themselves. Employees of the surveying firm had inspected two timber-framed houses to determine whether they were suitable to have cavity
A pharmaceutical company has failed to prevent two former employees setting up their own firm and competing for business from one of its main customers, the NHS. The issue arose when the company considered selling adrenaline pens but then decided not to go ahead. Two of its employees thought there was a market for the
Councils have been given £4m to help tackle the problem of rogue landlords. The funds will be used to target landlords that force their tenants to live in squalid or overcrowded properties, and to penalise those that do not keep their properties maintained to the necessary standards. Housing Minister Kris Hopkins said: “The majority of
The government is set to increase fines for employers who fail to pay their employees the National Minimum Wage (NMW). Currently businesses can be ordered to reimburse workers who have received less than the minimum wage. They can also be fined 50% of the total amount of underpayment for all their employees, up to a
Mr Cameron said that many firms have been bogged down by minor regulations and legislation, preventing them from using their time and money more efficiently to expand. The Prime Minister was speaking at a Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) conference. He said: “”We need to be a country that celebrates enterprise and backs risk takers.”
The scheme is intended to help people get a mortgage to buy their own home. Many people have been unable to take the first step on to the property ladder because they can’t raise enough money for a deposit. Help to Buy: mortgage guarantee means the buyer needs to raise only a 5% deposit on