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Prosperity and Work
Prosperity and Work
Latest news
October 1st 2007
Minimum wage rates rise
The mimimum wage rates rose today. The adult rate rose from £5.35 to £5.52 and the rate for 18 to 21 year olds from £4.44 to £4.60. The rate for 16 and 17 year oldfs rose from £3.30 to £3.40 per hour.
September 2007
Improving and enhancing the skills of the UK workforce is the key to economic success, the PM has said.
In a speech to the Trades Union Congress in Brighton, the PM said that Britain could be "the great success story" of the new global economic age and that the 21st century can be "Britain's century". The Government's task in coming years will be to "match workers needing jobs to the jobs needing workers", he said.
The PM said:
"It is absolutely essential that we ensure that British workers receive all the support, training and skills so they can share in the benefits of globalisation. The new jobs that are coming and the vacancies now available represent a great new opportunity for British young people and adults as never before.
"I want us to be ready and prepared for the biggest transformation in employment our economy has seen for a hundred years."
Gordon announced a variety of measures aimed at filling vacancies in the job market, including a fast-track system for job applicants and a matching service for apprentices and employers. All school-leavers from summer 2007 will have a guaranteed place on a pre-apprenticeship course, he said.
July 11 2007
New bills to be published in the Autumn
The Queen's speech this Autumn will include several bills in this policy area.
The Employment Simplification Bill will bring simpler and fairer enforcement of the minium wage, and create a stronger enforcement regime for employment law.
The Pensions Bill will introduce Personal Accounts to make workplace saving easier.
The Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill will set up the new Better Local Regulation Office on a statutory basis, to have more effective and less burdensome regulation by trading standards and environmental health services.
June 2007
The Department for Trade and Industry was replaced in Gordon Brown's reshuffle by the new Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR).
The new Department leads work to create the conditions for business success through competitive and flexible markets that create value for businesses, consumers and employees. It drives regulatory reform, and works across Government and with the regions to raise levels of UK productivity. Click here for more.
Conference 2007 - Prosperity and Work announcements
We will close private equity and non-dom tax loopholes.
The link between pensions and earnings will be restored.
There will be more schemes to help lone parents into work.
October 10 2007
Pre-budget report
The pre-budget report had a number of announcements on spending – see here for details
November 6 2007
Queen’s Speech has new bills
There were 29 bills and draft bills mentioned in the Queen’s Speech on November 6 2007. For more details on the Bills relating to this Commission, click here.
December 17 2007
Pension rescue scheme gets £2.9bn
Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain announced a £2.9bn rescue package for the pensions of 140,000 workers who lost their pensions when their companies went bust.
Other Pages
Commission Work Programme 2007
Family and Workers Rights - latest news
Report August 2006
Report June 2006
Commission Work Programme 2006