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Prosperity and Work
Prosperity and Work
Latest news
January 24 2008
New tax relief for entrepreneurs
A new capital gains tax relief for entrepreneurs, reflecting the Government's continued commitment to supporting small business and enterprise was announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer today.
Entrepreneurs' relief will be targeted on the owners of small businesses, and will apply when they sell their business. The relief will also be available to all employees and company directors who invest a material stake in a qualifying company. It will take effect from 6 April 2008 alongside the rest of the capital gains tax reform package.
The relief will deliver a 10 per cent tax rate for up to the first £1 million of lifetime capital gains. Individuals will be able to claim relief for gains made on multiple occasions up to a cumulative total of £1 million. Gains in excess of the £1 million lifetime limit will attract the standard 18 per cent rate of tax.
January 29 2008
Expanding apprenticeships and developing skills
The Apprenticeships Review has been published by the Labour Government outlining an ambitious plan to expand and strengthen apprenticeships.
Building on the major improvements in recent years, the review will establish apprenticeships as a key route in building the national skills base and working with employers to help young people and adults get the skills that employers value.
It also sets out objectives to make apprenticeships a mainstream option for 16 to 18 year-olds and to ensure that places are available for all qualified young people by 2013, with significant growth for older learners also.
March 5 2008
Minimum wage increased by more than inflation
The Prime Minister announced today that in October, the Minimum Wage will be increased by more than inflation, rising to £5.73 per hour (£4.77 for 18-21 year olds and £3.53 for 16 and 17 year olds).
May 14 2008
Draft Queen's Speech bills
There are a number of bills suggested for the November Queen's Speech, including Banking reform and savings. There are more details here.
May 15 2008
New flexible working rights for millions
The Labour government announced today that it will extend the right to request flexible working to parents of children up to age 16 - benefiting an extra 4.5 million parents.
May 20 2008
Deal agreed on agency workers
The Government has today agreed a deal between unions and employers that will see agency workers in the UK receive equal treatment after 12 weeks employment.
After 12 weeks in a given job agency workers will have an entitlement to equal treatment. Equal treatment will be defined to mean at least the basic working and employment conditions that would apply to the workers concerned if they had been recruited directly by that undertaking to occupy the same job.
June 10 2008
EU agrees UK deal for agency and temporary workers
The EU today agreed the UK deal on agency workers.
October 15 2008
£100m boost for employment
James Purnell announced an additional £100million investment to help people who lose their jobs to help them retrain and develop their skills so that they can quickly move back into work.And we are making the benefits system fairer. The welfare state should be based on a simple deal – we will give you more support but you will have a responsibility to take up the opportunities that are available.
October 21 2008
Helping SMEs
Labour have announced further support to help small and medium sized businesses bear the impact of the current global economic challenges.
The package focuses on the areas that small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) have identified as top priorities - cash flow, access to finance and training for staff.
To help SMEs the Labour Government will:
Work with English NHS trusts and Regional Development Agencies, local authorities and other public sector employers commitment to pay firms within 10 days.
Offer free "Health Checks" in England for businesses through its Business Link support service to help identify problems early and to survive in the current financial climate.
Prioritise training for SMEs in England under its Train to Gain initiative to ensure employees have the skills and business knowledge they need.
Provide financial information, produced by the Institute of Credit Management, to help UK businesses to maintain cash flow, secure finance and limit problems caused by late or non-payment.
November 13 2008
Post offices protected
Labour’s Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, James Purnell, has announced that the Post Office has been awarded the contract to continue providing the Post Office Card Account (POCA).
The Labour Government has taken the decision to help secure a viable Post Office network by awarding the five-year contract directly to the Post Office. Four million people, including two million pensioners, will be able to continue to use their account to access benefits over the counter at local branches. The Labour Government has also announces a £1.7bn subsidy to help maintain the post office network and keep branches open in the right places
December 11 2008
£4bn boost for pensioners
Pensioners are set for a £4 billion boost next year as the Labour Government confirmed the biggest rise in the Basic State Pension since 2001 today, on top of £900m in Christmas Bonuses and a £575m increase in Winter Fuel Payments. From April, the State Pension will go up by 5%, ensuring someone on a full pension will see their weekly income go up from £90.70 to £95.25. Ministers also confirmed that Pension Credit will increase by the highest amount ever, up from £124.05 to £130 per week.
The Labour Government confirmed today that most National Insurance benefits will rise by 5 per cent, and most income-related benefits will be uprated by 6.3 per cent, providing real support to people in the current economic climate.
Other Pages
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Family and Workers Rights - latest news
Report August 2006
Report June 2006
Commission Work Programme 2006