The Queen’s Speech on the State Opening of Parliament on 10 May sets out the Government’s agenda for the next session and its plans to grow the economy. The Prime Minister announced some 38 bills – including the Modern Slavery Bill. This aims to: “Strengthen the protection and support for victims of human trafficking and modern...
From Sunday 1 May, public health advice changed to a ‘stay at home’ message replacing self-isolation for people who have symptoms or have tested positive for Covid-19. People who have symptoms of Covid-19 and who have a fever or are too unwell to carry out normal activities will be asked to ‘stay at home’ while...
The British Government has chosen to scrap a controversial EU law which could have required a wider range of vehicles beyond cars and motorbikes to have motor insurance. Golf buggies, ride-on lawnmowers and quad bikes could have come in scope, and it would have applied to vehicles on private land. The Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Bill, which...
The Home Secretary has approved the order to relax pub closing hours between Thursday 2 June and Saturday 4 June, with opening hours extended by two hours from 11pm to 1am. The move will allow pubs and other licensed premises to celebrate the 70th year of the Queen’s reign across the four day bank holiday...
VisitBritain’s We’re Good to Go mark is to close officially on 31 March 2022. The current certificates run to end of April so that participating businesses do not need to instantly remove logos etc, and to avoid additional costs to any business for material that is currently in place. Spot checks can still occur up...
The Euan’s Guide Access Survey in tourism is the longest running survey of its kind in the UK. Every autumn and winter, it asks disabled people what’s good and not so good about disabled access at the places they visit. Over 2400 disabled people, families, friends and carers shared their opinions on disabled access two...
Home Office Minister Kit Malthouse has said that the Government will relax licensing hours in England and Wales to mark the Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The Order applies to premises already licensed until 11pm whose licensing hours can now be extended to 1am the following day, on Thursday 2 June, Friday 3 June,...
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) says that a business’s intellectual property is one of its most important business assets and that it wants to help businesses across the UK protect and make the most of theirs. The IPO is running bitesize webinars explaining each IP right and the process of applying. This month they are...
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on 15 March that the requirement to wear face coverings will remain for at least a further two weeks. The requirement had been due to expire on Monday 21 March, but it will instead now be reviewed by ministers before the Easter holidays. This comes amidst an increase in the...
Tax changes coming in on 1 April 2022 may affect businesses and individuals currently entitled to supply or use rebated gas oil (red diesel) and rebated biofuels. The UK government is removing the entitlement to use red diesel for many sectors and affected businesses will have to use fuel that’s taxed at the standard rate...