What's New

A note recently published by the Treasury, available at assets.publishing.service.gov.uk, states that the collection of the HGV levy will be suspended for 12 months from 1 August 2020.

A report released this week by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) says that parts of England could run out of water within 20 years, stating that the Government has failed to be clear with water companies on how they should balance investment in infrastructure with reducing customer bills.

The current Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Roberto Azevêdo, announced some weeks ago that he planned to stand down from his post a year earlier than expected and the news generated nominations from around the globe.

The UK’s main construction union, Unite, has suggested that the recently reported large increase in construction deaths could be related to a steep fall in proactive inspections and prosecutions being undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The Home Secretary, Priti Patel, has set out the Government’s plan to address abuse and violence against shopworkers, but trade unions have criticised the plans for failing to go far enough and called for a new, specific law to protect shopworkers.

With data from Public Health England (PHE) showing that confirmed Covid-19 cases fell by a quarter in the week to 5 July, the Government has decided to press on with moves to allow more businesses and facilities to reopen in the near future.

Research by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) has shown that businesses and the Government may face an uphill struggle in convincing the public to return to pubs and restaurants on the high street.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced in his summer statement that employers will receive a £1,000 bonus for each member of staff kept on for three months following the end of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme in October 2020.

A third of nurseries in the most disadvantaged areas could be forced to close due to the Covid-19 crisis, according to research by the Sutton Trust.

The European Green Deal, which is currently being debated by the European Parliament and EU Member States, includes a proposal to develop stricter emissions standards for all petrol and diesel cars, vans, lorries and buses.