Government Equalities Office simplifies legislation for business
Provisions to make it easier for business to comply with discrimination law will be introduced from October the Government Equalities Office (GEO) confirmed today. More
UK to see surge in next generation of mobile technology under new Government plans
The UK is set to benefit from a new generation of wireless services and improved mobile broadband coverage under new Government plans to revolutionise the country’s digital infrastructure, announced today. More
Debt collection
agencies will be used by HM Revenue & Customs
(HMRC) during 2010-11 to collect an additional
£140m of tax debt.
The contracts have been signed with:
• Commercial Collection Services Ltd
• Credit Solutions Ltd
• Fairfax Solicitors Ltd
• iQor Recovery Services Ltd.
In the June 2010 Budget it was announced that,
following a successful pilot, HMRC would use Debt
Collection Agencies (DCAs) operating under
industry and HMRC standards to boost HMRC’s
debt collection capacity and help the pursuit of
lower value debts.
Nick Lodge, HMRC Director, Debt Management and
Banking, said:
“We are all expected to pay our taxes on
time and most do.
“DCAs give HMRC vital additional capacity,
strengthening our ability to pursue the debts of
those who decline to pay.
“We do understand that some businesses and
individuals are not in a position to pay what
they owe and we have put procedures in place to
help those who are genuinely struggling. But
those who simply refuse to pay have to be
pursued, and our partnership with DCAs ensures
they will be.”
Before the debt is referred to a DCA, HMRC will
write to the debtor providing a final opportunity
to pay or reach an agreement with the
department.
Top of page
The Chancellor
George Osborne and Exchequer Secretary David
Gauke today established the Office of Tax
Simplification (OTS).
The Chancellor has appointed a Board of tax
experts who will be responsible for leading the
work of the OTS over the next year. The Board
Members are Michael Jack (Chairman) and John
Whiting (Tax Director).
Their responsibilities will be to identify areas
where complexities in the tax system for both
businesses and individual taxpayers can be
reduced and to publish their findings for the
Chancellor to consider ahead of his Budget.
The OTS will undertake two initial reviews over
the coming year. They will focus on tax reliefs
and small business tax simplification (including
IR35). The OTS will publish the initial findings
from their work on reliefs in late autumn and on
small business tax by the 2011 Budget.
The OTS will also draw on external expertise from
the tax and legal profession over the coming
months. These experts will focus on specific
areas of complexity in the tax system and provide
additional advice to the OTS.
The Government is committed to making the UK the
most competitive country in the G20 and to
reducing the complexity in the tax system. Over
the past decade, the tax code doubled to more
than 11,000 pages and the UK slipped from 7th to
13th in the World Economic Forum’s Global
Competitiveness Index between 1997 and 2009-10.
This trend needs to be reversed, and the OTS is
an important part of making the tax system work
better for the taxpayer.
Chancellor George Osborne said: "The previous
Government took a complex tax system and made it
even worse. A decade of meddling and intervening
has made the tax affairs of millions of families
and businesses across the UK extremely
complicated. We need to sort out this mess.
"Two years ago I promised to create the Office of
Tax Simplification. Today, we’re delivering
on that promise. With its independent, expert
advice it will be a permanent force for a simpler
tax system.
"Simpler, more competitive taxes will help us
show the world that Britain is open for
business."
The Rt Hon Michael Jack, the Chair of the OTS,
said: "Entrepreneurship should never be stifled
because of an overly complex tax system. That's
why I am delighted that the Government have
committed themselves to looking at ways to
simplify the tax system, with an initial focus on
small businesses.
"Simplification in a complex world is a real
challenge, but it's one that has to be addressed
if the tax system is not to hinder the economy's
ability to grow."
John Whiting, the Tax Director of the OTS, said:
"I've long argued that we need a simpler tax
system in the UK, so I'm delighted to be given
the opportunity to take forward the Government's
commitment in that direction.
"In our complex world a truly simple tax system
for all is probably impossible, but working
towards a simpler system will help all who deal
with it: taxpayers, especially the unrepresented,
tax advisers and tax
authorities."
Top of page
Provisions to
make it easier for business to comply with
discrimination law will be introduced from
October the Government Equalities Office (GEO)
confirmed today.
The Equality Act brings together nine separate
pieces of legislation into one single Act
simplifying the law and reducing the burden on
business by making it easier for firms to comply
with discrimination law.
The first wave of implementation of the Equality
Act will go ahead to the planned October
timetable following the publication of the first
commencement order in Parliament next week. This
will pave the way for the implementation of
landmark provisions to protect disabled people
from discrimination and tackle the gender pay
gap.
Home Secretary and Minister for Women and
Equalities Theresa May said:
"By making the law easier to understand, the
Equality Act will help business treat staff
fairly and meet the needs of a diverse customer
base. The law will be easier to understand and
better able to protect people from
discrimination.
"Implementing the Equality Act to the planned
timetable makes clear our commitment to equality.
A successful economy needs the full participation
of all its citizens and we are committed to
implementing the Act in the best way for
business."
Along with these legislative measures the GEO
will also look at ways of achieving our equality
aims without new legislation.
On Monday the GEO will publish, in conjunction
with the British Chambers of Commerce, the
Equality and Diversity Forum and Citizens Advice,
summary guides to support implementation of the
Act. This will be followed by a series of
‘Quick Start’ guides to key changes
in the law. This simple guidance will set out
clearly what the new laws will mean for business,
the public sector and the voluntary sector,
helping people to prepare and minimising the
effects of transition.
Top of page
The UK is set to
benefit from a new generation of wireless
services and improved mobile broadband coverage
under new Government plans to revolutionise the
country’s digital infrastructure, announced
today.
Minister for Communications, Ed Vaizey, launched
a programme of measures for radio spectrum
modernisation, which will allow mobile operators
to deliver the latest technologies to consumers
and extend the reach of mobile broadband across
the country.
The Minister commented:
“The past 20 years has seen a revolution in
mobile technologies and devices that have
transformed the way we communicate, learn and do
business.
“We want the UK market to remain at the
fore of delivering devices like the iPad and
smart phones but they need the networks to
continue to improve and increase services.
“Under our plans, our mobile industry will
have access to the 21st Century infrastructure it
needs to give UK consumers the latest
technologies and even better coverage for
broadband on their mobile phones.”
The spectrum modernisation programme will be
implemented under a Direction to regulator OFCOM,
which has been laid in Parliament.
The new Direction is a simplified version of that
proposed by the previous Government and measures
include:
·
Requiring OFCOM to co-ordinate a combined auction
of 2.6GHz and 800MHz spectrum as soon as possible
in order that operators can deliver widespread
high speed mobile broadband;
·
Requiring OFCOM carry out a competitive
assessment of future 3G and 4G markets, including
the potential for new entrants. Their
assessment will inform the design of the auction,
aimed at enabling delivery of new competitive
mobile broadband services for UK consumer and
business benefit;
·
Liberalising 2G spectrum at 900MHz and 1800MHz,
implementing the EU’s revised GSM directive
to allow operators to use these frequencies for
3G technologies;
·
Making 3G licences indefinite to encourage
greater investment in 3G services to reach more
consumers across the UK. They will also be made
tradable, and;
·
Requiring Ofcom to apply annual licence fees to
reflect the market value of these licences which
will be applied after the initial licence term
(ends 31 December 2021).
The Minister also announced funding for a
generous compensation package to support the
Programme Making and Special Events users (PMSE)
who are moving out of the 800MHz spectrum.
The funding will make a significant contribution
to the costs of the PMSE community in upgrading
equipment to suit their new operating
frequency.
The new package will ensure PMSE companies can
invest in equipment suitable for the Channel 38
frequency, from 2012 when they are moved out of
Channel 69 (800MHz frequency)
This offer has been made because PMSE users had
an expectation to use Channel 69 until at least
2018. However, this was brought forward to
2012 under revised proposals and the compensation
therefore reflects the need for PMSE users to
invest in new equipment earlier than originally
envisaged.
The support provided will not take into account
the age of the equipment that requires upgrading,
although the equipment will need to be in working
order. OFCOM will be providing further
details on the package shortly.
The decision is in line with the announcement
that funding would be provided to clear the
800MHz spectrum that will be freed up as part of
the Digital Switchover programme. This, and
the availability of other frequencies will give
mobile operators increased capacity to operate
current and future devices on a larger scale,
more effectively.
Top of page
The Exchequer
Secretary to the Treasury, David Gauke MP has
published nine documents for discussion and
consultation relating to tax, following
commitments made at the June Budget.
This will provide businesses, tax professionals
and other interested parties with a more
comprehensive view and the opportunity to comment
on the Government's proposed tax reforms. The
Government set out its new and innovative
approach to tax policy making at the June Budget,
designed to create a more predictable, stable and
simple tax system in the UK. The documents
published today are: • PAYE reform
• Furnished Holiday Lettings
• Pensions tax relief
• Associated company rules
• Disclosure of Inheritance Tax
avoidance • Foreign branch taxation
• Controlled Foreign Company interim
improvements • Modernisation of
Investment Trust Company rules
• National Minimum Wage regulations
The Government is committed to being more open
and transparent in its approach to policy making.
By allowing relevant and interested parties to
have their say, it will greatly improve the
quality of the process and allow the Government
to make informed decisions based on the views of
those who will be affected.
The Exchequer Secretary, David Gauke MP, said:
"We want to make the tax system simpler and work
better for the taxpayer. By reducing burdens,
making the right choices and involving taxpayers,
we are sending a very clear signal that Britain
is open for business" "We are committed to a more
considered and open approach to tax
policymaking. That is why consultation and
scrutiny of our tax policies will be the
cornerstone of our tax policymaking process. I
want to encourage relevant parties to provide
their feedback on the tax consultations that we
have published today"
Top of page
Health Secretary
Andrew Lansley today set out proposals to free
the NHS to focus on improving services and
outcomes for patients.
‘Regulating Healthcare Providers’
makes the case for releasing foundation trusts so
we have the most vibrant social enterprise sector
anywhere in the world. Monitor will be
given new powers to defend the interests of
patients and the public, through regulating
prices and protecting choice and competition.
In the White Paper ‘Equity and Excellence:
Liberating the NHS’, the Government set out
that all NHS trusts will become foundation trusts
by 2013. The consultation published today
puts forward proposals to free up foundation
trusts to innovate for improved outcomes and
services by:
• removing the statutory private income cap
to give trusts opportunities to expand the
services they offer to patients - but ensuring
that they remain focussed on providing NHS
services;
• removing statutory borrowing limits that
are not imposed on voluntary or private
providers;
• making it easier for a foundation trust to
merge or take over another trust; and
• giving more flexibility to foundation
trusts to allow greater staff and patient
involvement – with the possibility of some
smaller organisations being led only by
employees.
Monitor will become the economic regulator for
the NHS, sitting alongside the Care Quality
Commission (CQC) who will continue to regulate
quality. It will be responsible for:
• licensing providers of NHS services in an
integrated and streamlined registration and
licensing regime with the CQC;
• setting tariff prices for NHS services;
• promoting competition so that the NHS
gives patients the best possible services and
outcomes, and ensuring a level playing field for
providers; and
• supporting commissioners in ensuring that
services for patients are maintained when
providers fail.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said:
“In order to truly improve health outcomes
and the service the NHS gives to patients, it
must be free from the shackles of central
control. All NHS trusts will become
foundation trusts and they will have greater
freedom so that they can concentrate on being
more responsive to patients.
“We will remove the statutory borrowing
limit and the ill thought through private income
cap from foundation trusts – this will give
the NHS opportunities to expand the services it
offers to patients, with all profits reinvested
in patient care.
“Competition and patient choice together
will improve services, stimulate innovation and
increase productivity. In its new expanded
role, Monitor will ensure a level playing field
that rewards the best and most efficient
providers that continuously improve services for
the people they serve - the
patients.”
Top of page
More than 50
people a day have illegal foods seized at ports
and airports when entering the UK, the latest
figures show.
More than 21,200 illegal personal food items,
such as meat and dairy products, brought in from
non-EU countries were seized by UK enforcement
agencies such as the UK Border Agency last year,
under EU rules intended to protect people,
livestock and crops from exotic pests and
diseases.
Food Minister Jim Paice said:
“Most people bring back these items for a
‘taste of home’, but they could be
bringing back disease.
“We need to make sure we protect our crops
and livestock, as well as people’s health
– which is why we’ve been working to
raise awareness and dispel myths about personal
food imports rules.
“Most of these foods can now be purchased
in British markets and shops.”
Enforcement agencies seized more illegal dairy
products (45 per cent increase) and illegal meat
products (14 per cent increase), according to the
Annual Review of Controls on Imports of Animal
Products.
The UK Border Agency has deployed officers to
further target high risk routes for illegal meat
and dairy products carried by incoming travellers
in line with the Government priority to protect
the UK agriculture from harmful outbreaks of
animal diseases. EU rules changed from May
2009 allowing an increase to the personal
concession amount allowed for fish.
Defra, the UK Border Agency and the Food
Standards Agency (FSA) raised public awareness of
the rules in many ways last year including the
re-launch of the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME)
campaign, with African and Chinese community
campaign ambassadors. The campaign also
included significant community outreach events to
help raise awareness.
Top of page
How local NHS,
public health, and care services will be shaped
Local people and
professionals will have much more say in shaping
healthcare in their areas - and NHS, social care
and public health services will work closer
together.
The Government is asking for views from the
public, health professionals and anyone else with
an interest in local health issues, on two public
consultations launched today:
· Commissioning for Patients; and
· Local Democratic Legitimacy in Health.
This follows the publication on 12 July of the
White Paper Equity and excellence: Liberating the
NHS.
Crucial elements of a truly personalised and
local health system have been proposed, that will
make it easier for everyone to shape local health
services and hold them to account in the future.
The Health Secretary and Communities Secretary
have set out proposals on how patients, locally
elected councillors, local authorities, public
health experts and others will work side by side
with GP consortia to make health services meet
the needs of people in local areas and improve
health outcomes.
This partnership, led by local authorities, will
mean services become more responsive, and
developed in ways that fit around the people who
use them.
Patients and the public will also have a stronger
voice through a new patient group, local
HealthWatch - a ‘citizen’s advice
bureau’ for health and social care. Local
people from HealthWatch would also influence
local plans ensuring they fit community needs.
Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley,
said:
“Power has to be devolved to local people
so that decisions about their health are made by
them, or by people that best understand their
needs.
“Whitehall can’t prescribe all of
this, and the health service shouldn’t wait
for a rule book from Government. Everyone should
have their say in these consultations so we can
get on with building strong local partnerships
and improve people’s health.”
The proposals also mean that health can be
considered alongside other crucial services like
education and housing – recognising the
impact that these services can have on the health
of individuals and families – for example,
suitable housing can help older people stay safe,
healthy and independent.
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said:
“A decade of centralising, controlling
government has left public services like the NHS
strangled with red tape, lumbered with target
after target, and weakened by the need to report
to bureaucrats instead of the public.
“Under proposals published today, for the
first time in forty years there will be local
democratic accountability and legitimacy in the
NHS.
“Elected councils will have a key role
including commissioning HealthWatch’
services to guarantee patients a voice. As we
push power away from Whitehall we will make the
health service more answerable to patients not
politicians.”
Within a ring-fenced public health budget, local
health improvement funds will be held by local
authorities, and decisions about how this is
spent will take account of all the local issues
that impact on people’s wellbeing. Local
Directors of Public Health will be crucial to
this process, and the national Public Health
Service, when created, will complement local
decision making with evidence, research and
evaluation.
Commissioning for patients
The second consultation, Commissioning for
Patients, sets out detailed proposals to put GP
consortia in charge of commissioning services
that best meet the needs of local people,
supported by an independent NHS Commissioning
Board.
It asks for views on a number of areas,
including:
· how GP consortia and the NHS Commissioning
Board can best involve patients in improving the
quality of health services;
· how GP consortia can work closely with
secondary care, community partners and other
health and care professionals to design joined-up
services that are responsive to patients and the
public;
· how the NHS Commissioning Board and GP
consortia can best work together ensure a
national framework that supports consortia in
making effective and efficient commissioning
decisions; and
· how the NHS Commissioning Board can best
support consortia and hold them to account for
the outcomes they achieve and their stewardship
of NHS resources.
Top of page
Skills Minister
John Hayes has today invited employers,
individuals, colleges and training organisations
to share their ideas on how they would like
skills policy to be set out in the future.
The consultation document Skills for Sustainable
Growth outlines BIS’s vision for skills and
what are expected to be the key elements of a
strategy for delivering it.
This is complemented by the consultation FE and
Skills Funding System and Methodology for Further
Education colleges and training organisations,
following an independent review by Chris Banks,
CBE.
The documents invite views on:
• How private investment in skills can
be optimised in accordance with benefits and to
allow public money to be used most effectively
where it is most needed;
• Where more limited public investment
should be focused and the skills system can be
made simpler and more effective;
• How support for individuals and
employers can be improved to develop skills and
learning and meet the needs of the economy;
• How businesses can be encouraged to
engage in supporting local community learning;
• Holding colleges and other training
organisations to account for their performance in
responding to learners and employers needs and to
prioritising training that adds real economic
value.
John Hayes, minister for Further Education,
Skills and Lifelong Learning, said:
"“Skills are vital for our economy but they
also help to build stronger communities and
empower individuals. Only by seeing learning as a
single whole, not a series of separate
compartments, can we ensure that it takes its
place at heart of both business strategy and
community life.
"Delivering future priorities will involve making
difficult choices about the use of public
funds. I believe that we can deliver more
and save money. But we will only achieve cost
effectiveness by challenging the orthodox
assumptions about what skills are for, how they
are funded and what role Government should play.
"I am determined to ensure our decisions are the
result of proper consultation so that policy
reflects real priorities. I therefore welcome
responses to the questions in this paper.
"By acknowledging the value of learning we can
begin the task of re-evaluating our priorities,
rediscovering craft, redefining community
learning, rejuvenating apprenticeships,
rebalancing the economy and building a big
society."
On Tuesday, the Department launched a paper, A
Strategy for Sustainable Growth, which argues
that while we face a period of tough savings in
public spending, we are determined to create an
environment that enables businesses to operate
with confidence and helping to secure the economy
for the future.
Skills for Sustainable Growth will inform a
strategy on skills which will be published in the
autumn after the Spending Review. The strategy
will outline the Government’s principles
for the skills system and a framework for policy
for the next five years.
The consultation will acknowledge that Further
Education and Skills is integral to supporting
the economy but that action to reduce the deficit
will mean public investment being used more
effectively. It will also ask for comments on how
to best deliver the key elements of the strategy
in the context of less public money overall.
The consultation FE and Skills Funding System and
Methodology examines ways in which the funding to
support the development of skills can best be
allocated and used, and includes in its reach
funding policy and budgetary arrangements for
colleges and training organisations, the funding
formula, allocations, procurement and contracting
and performance
management.
Top of page
The first step
towards creating a sustainable care and support
system for all adults, that puts individuals and
their families at its heart, was unveiled today
by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.
In setting out to Parliament the terms of
reference for the Commission on the Funding of
Care and Support, Andrew Lansley made clear that
it will consider a range of funding ideas
including both voluntary insurance and
partnership schemes. The Commission will be
chaired by Andrew Dilnot with two further
commissioners, Lord Norman Warner and Dame Jo
Williams and it and will report within a year.
The Commission will build on the extensive body
of work that has already been done in this area
and provide advice on how to implement the best
option.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said:
“By 2026, the number of 85 year olds is
projected to double. In the next 20 years
we estimate that 1.7 million more people will
have a potential care need than today. We
know that one in five 65 year olds today will
need care costing more than £50,000, which could
force many to sell family homes. The answer is
clear - we must develop a funding system for
adult care and support that offers choice, is
fair, provides value for money and is sustainable
for the public finances in the long term.
“I want to build momentum on this reform
and expect to see legislation in front of
Parliament next year.
“I am delighted that Andrew Dilnot will
chair the independent commission. I know Andrew
will bring a powerful analysis, rigour and
expertise to the debate.”
The Commission will examine and provide
recommendations on:
the best way to meet care and support costs as a
partnership between individuals
and the state;
how an individual’s assets are protected
against the cost of care;
how public funding for the care and support
system can be best used to meet
needs;
how to deliver the preferred option including
implementation timescales and
impact on local government.
Care Services Minister Paul Burstow said:
"Urgent reform of the social care system is at
the top of our agenda. The current system is
unsustainable - it cannot go on as it is. The
country needs a new settlement for social care.
Our first step to reaching a new settlement is to
get the independent commission up and running.
"For too long social care reform has been a
talking shop. Trade offs will have to be made but
we are determined to build a funding system that
is fair, affordable and sustainable."
Commission Chair Andrew Dilnot said:
"I am delighted to have been asked to Chair this
Commission. How we best look after those who need
care and support is one of the most pressing
social policy challenges facing our society
today. With more people living longer, we
urgently need to find a fair and sustainable way
to pay for the care which many of us will need.
“There are not going to be any easy
answers, and I know difficult decisions will have
to be made. However, I am looking forward to
examining all the issues, and listening to the
ideas of those who have been working on care and
support over the past few years. This has been a
hotly debated topic over recent months. It is now
my job to consider the best way forward and offer
concrete recommendations to
Government."
Top of page
Consumers can
now access their statutory credit report online
for a nominal fee of only £2 from all three major
UK credit reference agencies: Experian, Equifax,
and Callcredit
An agreement between the Department for Business,
Innovation and Skills and the industry means
consumers will now have easier access to their
credit reports. Continued free access to credit
reports for victims of ID fraud and the
financially vulnerable has also been secured by
the government.
Credit reference agencies and consumer groups
have committed to work together to raise
awareness of the importance of checking credit
records.
Consumer Minister Edward Davey said:
“These are highly beneficial changes. All
consumers now have easier access to their £2
statutory credit reports, with victims of ID
fraud and the financially vulnerable receiving
free access to their reports. These significant
improvements will help consumers take better
control of their finances.”
Credit reports allow consumers to monitor their
financial commitments by viewing, for example,
what credit commitments they have outstanding and
any late payments they have made. It is important
as the information held on their credit reports
may affect their ability to access further credit
or get the best deals in the future.
Previously, statutory credit reports for £2 were
only available by post, which could take seven
days to arrive.
Peter Vicary-Smith, Which? Chief Executive said:
'This should provide a quicker and more
convenient access for consumers to their credit
file, and could encourage more people to check
their file more regularly. This is a welcome
initiative in the battle against fraud and the
elimination of faulty
data.'
Top of page
Giving power to local people
How local NHS, public health, and care services will be shaped
Local people and professionals will have much more say in shaping healthcare in their areas - and NHS, social care and public health services will work closer together. More
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The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, David Gauke MP has published nine documents for discussion and consultation relating to tax, following commitments made at the June Budget. More
Greater freedom for the NHS
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley today set out proposals to free the NHS to focus on improving services and outcomes for patients. More
Don’t bring me back – buy me in the uk
More than 50 people a day have illegal foods seized at ports and airports when entering the UK, the latest figures show. More