TRANSPORT Goods vehide costs The DOT, in association with National
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Economic Research Associates, has published research on the costs associated with goods vehicles. The findings include the environmental effects of HGVs, information on dieselpowered vehicle taxation in the EU, and tables of annual costs of HGVs in 1998.
Further information on Lorry Track and Environmental Costs is available from the DOT Contact: 020 7944 3000.
Customs simplification Flivl Customs plans improvements to export and import procedures. The measures include: • Electronic customs procedures for the export of goods to non-EU countries by July 200I; • Harmonisation of data requirements and procedures in the G7 countries; • Simplified collection of Customs duty for companies importing goods from non-EU countries into more than one EU country (under the Single European Authorisation project).
COMPANY Annual insolvency report
The Insolvency Service (IS) has published its annual report and accounts for i April 1999-3i March 2000. It states that over the past year there has been a zo% increase in the number of directors disqualified. The IS also announced the launch of a pilot scheme, the Forensic Insolvency Recovery Service (FIRS), which will take legal action against disqualified directors guilty of misappropriation, misfeasance or negligence, in an attempt to recover money personally from directors who abuse the system.
Copies of the report are available from the Stationery Office.
Business help
The Department of Trade and Industry has published its response to the Better Regulation Taskforce's (BRT) report Helping Small Firms Cope with Regulation—Exemption and Other Approaches. It highlights ways in which businesses should be able to cut down on red tape.
Copies are available on the Internet at www. businessadviceonline.org/site/hottopks.asp.
EMPLOYMENT
Workplace Comfort
The Health and Safety Executive (H SE) has issued guidance for employers on ensuring the comfort of their employees in all weather. An uncomfortably hot environment may lead to lower productivity and higher stress, leading to increased absenteeism. The employers could be breaking the law, which requires them to ensure that the temperature provides "reasonable comfort". The guidance offers practical advice and suggests simple steps to take.
Copies of Thermal Comfort in the Workplace: A Guidefar Employers (ref HSGT94) cost f3.5o, from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk, COI° 2WA, phone 01787 88"65. Copies can be ordered online atwww.hsebooks.co.uk
FINANCE Stakeholder Pensions Anyone earning under L3o,000 a year will soon be able to save an extra £3,600 a year in stake holder pensions. The change will be implemented by an amendment to the Finance Bill. The Revenue has also consulted on new draft tax regulations relating to stakeholder schemes:
• Personal Pension Schemes (Conversion of Retirement Benefit Schemes and Restriction of Discretion to Approve) Regulations 2000;
• Personal Pension Schemes (Establishment of Schemes) Order z000;
• Personal Pension Schemes (Information Powers) Regulations 2000;
• Personal Pension Scheme (Transfer Payments) Regulations 2000.
Among other things, these will allow employers to set up stakeholder schemes under trust; set out rules governing those occupational money purchase schemes that wish to change their tax approval to the new defined contribution tax regime; set out revised rules governing transfer to and from personal and stakeholder pensions; and set out the information that personal and stakeholder pension scheme administrators should provide to the Pension Schemes Office.
Review and accounts
The Competition Commission has published its Annual Review and Accounts for 1999/ zoo o , which includes summaries of its findings over the past year. Copies are free from the Competition Commission Information Centre (ozo 7271 0243) or on the Internet at www.competition-commission.org.uk.
TAXATION Income tax fraud
From I January 2001 a statutory offence of evading income tax will be in force with a penalty of up to six months in prison or a fine up to £5,000, or both on summary conviction. On indictment the penalty is up to seven years in prison, or an unlimited fine, or both (see Money Matters, page 46).
HEALTH & SAFETY Occupational health The Health and Safety Commission and the Department of Health have published a report that recommends ways of making occupational health support more freely available to people working for small and medium enterprises. The report contains more than 30 recommendations, including suggesting improved measures to:
III Change behaviour towards occupational health;
• Promote the general awareness of occupational health issues; • Deliver occupational health support and advice.
Copies of the Occupational Health Advisory Committee Report and Recommendations on Improving Access to Occupational Health Support are available free from the Health and Safety Executive (H SE).
Contact: 020 7717 6225 or HSE's web site www.hse.gov.uk/hthdir/noframesfaccess.htm.
HEALTH & SAFETY
New EU web site
A web site has been launched which offers access and ordering capability for EU legislation, information, policy guides and other publications. It is a joint project by the Stationery Office and EUR-OP (Office for Official Publications of the European Communities). Contact: www.accesstoeurope.com.