Policy News Journal - 2016-17

The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals ……………………………………………………………Policy News Journal

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Consultation on draft Scottish Independence Referendum Bill 2 November 2016

A draft bill giving Scotland the ability to reconsider the question of independence before the UK leaves the EU has been published for consultation.

The current Scottish Government was elected with a clear mandate that the Scottish Parliament should have the right to hold an independence referendum if there was clear and sustained evidence that independence had become the preferred option of a majority of the Scottish people – or if there was a significant and material change in the circumstances that prevailed in 2014, such as Scotland being taken out of the EU against their will. Given Scotland’s strong and unequivocal vote to remain in the EU, Scotland is now faced with one of the specific scenarios in which this government pledged that the Scottish Parliament should have the right to hold an independence referendum. As announced in September 2016 in A Plan For Scotland: The Scottish Government's Programme For Scotland 2016- 17 , the Scottish Government is publishing for consultation a draft Referendum bill in order that it is ready for introduction should the Scottish Government conclude that seeking the view of the Scottish people on independence is the best or only way to protect Scotland’s interests in the wake of the EU referendum. It would be for the Scottish Parliament to consider the bill and decide whether a referendum should be held.

This consultation paper invites views on the proposals for how the referendum would be run. The consultation will be open until 11 January 2017.

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Businesses being urged to prepare for new £1 coin 8 November 2016

As HM Treasury and Royal Mint say, the pound won’t be ‘round’ much longer as the 30 year old coin is being taken out of circulation in favour of a new 12-sided £1 coin in March 2017.

A new website has gone live with a campaign to support retailers and other major businesses to prepare for the historic new £1 coin.

The government and Royal Mint are supporting all businesses affected as the old pound coin is brought out of circulation and replaced with a new 12-sided version.

The new pound coin will be the most secure of its kind in the world, to combat counterfeiters who have around 45 million counterfeit £1 coins currently in circulation. New security features include a hologram-like image that changes from a ‘£’ symbol to the number ‘1’ when the coin is seen from different angles. It also has micro-lettering and milled edges.

Businesses of all sizes are being encouraged to visit the New Pound Coin website to find out how to get ready for the change, and to download helpful materials to help educate and train staff.

All cash handling businesses should take the following steps before March 2017:

 check whether they operate equipment that handles the £1 coin  contact their equipment supplier to find out if they need to make any adaptations or upgrades  make the necessary changes to their coin handling equipment  train their staff on the features of the new £1 coin  make arrangements with their bank or cash in transit provider to return the current £1 coin and new £1 coin in separate packaging.

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The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals

Policy News Journal

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