HLAS

The UK Minister for Pensions Laura Trott has announced a shake-up of private pensions to create fairer, more predictable, and better-run pensions. Measures include consultation on new Value for Money framework, defined contribution scheme charge cap reforms, further work on small pots, and extension of Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) pension schemes. These plans will help address the pension inequality gap which has risen since the decline of Defined Benefit (DB) and the emergence of Defined Contributions (DC). This consultation seeks views on policy proposals to require trustees and managers of DC relevant occupational pension schemes and the providers and Independent [...]

Plans to protect consumers and grow the economy by regulating cryptoasset activities have been announced by the UK government. Cryptoassets – commonly known as ‘crypto’ – are a relatively new, diverse, and constantly evolving class of assets that have a range of potential benefits, as well as posing risks to the consumer. As is common in emerging technology markets, the crypto sector continues to experience high levels of volatility and a number of recent failures have exposed the structural vulnerability of some business models in the sector. Under plans set out by the government last week, it will seek to [...]

The UK fishing industry is to benefit from an initial £2 million investment to trial new, greener engines and help create a safer, more sustainable fishing fleet as the latest round of the £100m UK Seafood Fund opens. Older vessel engines are some of the industry’s biggest polluters and, according to a report by MARFISH, over half of the boats across the UK fishing fleet are now more than 30 years old, meaning that the annual energy use of the fleet is equivalent to that of 110,000 homes. From today, vessels in the small-scale coastal fleet can bid for up to £40,000 [...]

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is holding a series of workshops to listen to your feedback on the International Data Transfers Assessment, the Addendum and the Transfer Risk Assessment tool. The ICO would like to hear about your practical experience in using these tools, perhaps as a data protection professional or small organisation. This will be an opportunity for them to understand how the tools are working in practice and to listen to your feedback. These online workshops will take place on 14, 16 and 21 March 2023. See: Snap Surveys (welcomesyourfeedback.net)

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has published a statement with its latest advice on the 2023 programme. Whilst there is high level of strong population immunity developed over the past two and a half years, the risk of severe COVID-19 continues to be disproportionately greater in those from older age groups, residents in care homes for older adults, and persons with certain underlying health conditions. There also still remains on-going uncertainty regarding virus evolution, the durability and breadth of immunity, and the epidemiology of infection. The JCVI has indicated that for a smaller group of persons (such [...]

The British Tourism & Travel Show takes places from 22 March to 23 March 2023 at the NEC, Birmingham. It brings together hotels, attractions and destinations wanting to meet and do business with key decision makers responsible for planning holidays, trips and tours and breaks. The show will attract 3,000 visitors and attendees include: coach operators, tour operators, group travel organisers, travel agents, travel services, and media and associations. Who should exhibit? Tourism suppliers wishing to work with the travel trade including: hotels, visitor attractions, destinations marketing companies, local specialists, and transport providers. See: British Tourism & Travel Show - [...]

If you regularly sell goods or services through an online marketplace, you could be classed as a ‘trader’. And if you earn more than £1,000 before deducting expenses through your trading, you will need to pay Income Tax on this. For tax, an online marketplace is any website or mobile phone app that handles and enables the sale of goods and services from individuals and/or businesses to customers. If you only sell items occasionally, you can check if you need to tell HMRC about this income. If you’ve never declared income through a Self-Assessment tax return, you can register for HMRC Online Services. Please talk [...]

A new trial system aims to identify taxpayers seeking help with specific queries which HMRC considers can be resolved online. Such callers will be sent a text message containing relevant links. Callers to HMRC’s income tax helplines from a mobile phone will be dealt with in one of the following three ways: Callers with queries about their UTR or registering for online services will be sent an SMS that matches the key words they used to describe their query. The call will be automatically disconnected after a message explaining that an SMS has been sent. Callers with queries about whether [...]

Employers should be aware that all minimum wage rates increase on 1 April of each year. This includes all National Minimum Wage rates and the National Living Wage rate. See the table below that shows the current minimum wage rates and new rates from April 2023: See: National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The government is taking action against unscrupulous employers that use the controversial practice of ‘fire and rehire’, it has announced. Last year P&O Ferries sought to evade the law by sacking 786 seafarers without due consultation. Having made no efforts to inform the Business Secretary at the time, they failed to follow best practice or do the right thing for their employees. As a result, the transport Secretary introduced a 9-point plan including primary legislation to tackle these issues. Through a planned statutory code of practice, the government is protecting employees and cracking down on employers that use controversial dismissal [...]