As part of its long-term economic plan, the government will cut red tape for business by at least £10 billion over the next 5 years in a new Enterprise Bill that will back business to create jobs.
In Sajid Javid’s first speech as Business Secretary he said that the Bill will help make Britain the best place in Europe to start and grow a business, and help create 2 million more jobs over the next 5 years, so that more people have the security of a regular paypacket. Another central measure in the Bill will be the creation of a Small Business Conciliation Service to help settle disputes between small and large businesses, especially over late payment practices. Small firms are owed over £32 billion in late payments, but many of them are not aware of their rights or are reluctant to launch legal challenges. This service will build on the existing suite of measures to tackle poor payment practices. The bill will also support businesses through the extension and simplification of Primary Authority. This scheme allows a business to get advice on regulation from a single local council and this advice must then be respected by all other councils - reducing the time and cost to businesses of having to obey different rules.
Whistleblowing: list of prescribed people and bodies 4 June 2015
If an individual wants to report malpractice to someone other than their employer, there is a prescribed list to ensure the correct person or body receives the issue.
The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) has published an up to date whistleblowing list which details prescribed people and bodies that individuals can report malpractice to, other than their employer.
The whistleblowing list also includes a brief description about the matters that can be reported to each prescribed person or body.
What is whistle blowing? ‘Whistleblowing’ is when a worker reports suspected wrongdoing at work. Officially this is called ‘making a disclosure in the public interest’. A worker can report things that aren’t right, are illegal or if anyone at work is neglecting their duties, including:
someone’s health and safety is in danger damage to the environment a criminal offence the company isn’t obeying the law (like not having the right insurance) covering up wrongdoing
Visit GOV.UK for further details on whistle blowing.
Acas also has guidance - Whistle-blowing - Public Interest Disclosure
Review into the impact of Employment Tribunal fees 15 June 2015
When fees were introduced in the Employment Tribunals in July 2013, the government made a commitment to review their impact.
The government has announced the start of the review which will consider how effective the introduction of fees has been at meeting the original objectives, while maintaining access to justice.
The original objectives were:
to transfer some of the cost from the taxpayer to those who use the service, where they can afford to do so to encourage the use of alternative dispute resolution services, for example, ACAS conciliation to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the tribunal.
The review will also consider the effectiveness of the new fee remissions scheme, which was introduced in October 2013.
CIPP Policy News Journal
25/04/2016, Page 53 of 453
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