Feature Articles

Briefing you on all the latest technical accounting news

In the case of HM Revenue & Customs v PA Holdings Limited, PA wished to pay its employees discretionary annual bonuses. It adopted an arrangement whereby the employees were awarded shares in a special purpose company and received dividends. The effect, so PA contended, was that the cash the employees received was dividend income rather than employment income and should be taxed as such. Additionally, PA contended that there was no liability to make National Insurance Contributions (NICs) in respect of these payments.

The British Safety Council level 3 certificate in occupational safety and health is now available for delivery by employers and private training providers.

The Court of Appeal has upheld the High Court’s decision in the Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc/Nortel Networks Corp case, confirming that in insolvency proceedings, pension scheme trustees will have super priority status as creditors above other unsecured claims.

When it comes to employment rights, working in a partnership is not as straightforward as it might seem, says Sarah Rushton

Organisations wishing to apply for this year’s prestigious International Safety Awards have just weeks left to complete their applications, with the scheme closing for entries on 29 February.

The UK prime minister has announced a series of measures to tackle the compensation culture and bring an end to the “health and safety monster”, releasing businesses in the UK from health and safety red tape in the process.

The government has faced criticism from the shadow secretary of state for Wales over the lack of state funding available for the Mines Rescue Service in light of the Gleision colliery tragedy.

Following the publication of his government-commissioned review of UK health and safety legislation, the British Safety Council’s director of policy and communications Neal Stone asks Professor Ragnar Löfstedt about its key themes of encouraging a better understanding risk and the influence of the European Union on UK safety laws.