The Desk
Politics
Westminster, Whitehall and the policy decisions shaping contracting.
93 ARTICLES
2000–2025
DESK / POLITICS
2000–2025
DESK / POLITICS
- 22 OCT 2001e-Envoy will head up UK e-Security boostThe e-Envoy, Andrew Pinder, is to oversee the introduction of digital signatures, smart cards for businesses and the public and will assist with…READ →
- 15 OCT 2001Hewitt calls for more 'IT' girlsPatricia Hewitt, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary, has announced details of a Government plan to encourage more women in the UK…READ →
- 9 OCT 2001'Our position on IR35 is right' says ConservativesA Conservative party spokesman has said there would be no change to their pledge to repeal IR35 following reports that the Tories would abandon tax…READ →
- 7 OCT 2001Minister announces 'unfair advantage' for small businessesNigel Griffiths, Minister for Small Business, has announced a £75 million Government fund to help new and existing small businesses to grow in the UK.READ →
- 7 OCT 2001Government drops qualifying period for temps' annual leaveThe qualifying period for a temporary or contract worker to be entitled to claim paid annual leave is to be dropped with effect from 25 October.READ →
- 18 SEP 2001DTI calls off EAA meeting with recruitment industryThe Department of Trade and Industry has called off a meeting between Minister Alan Johnson and senior industry figures belonging to the Recruitment…READ →
- 10 SEP 2001Revenue responds to questions over Sunday Times' attackThe Inland Revenue has answered UKTECH's questions regarding a Sunday Times article that quoted from disgruntled Revenue employees and the case of an…READ →
- 29 AUG 2001Revenue's 1,250 strong 'blunder squad' to clear 7.8m open casesThe Inland Revenue will fund 1,250 extra staff to clear a backlog of 7.8 million open cases caused by the failures of the National Insurance…READ →
- 28 AUG 2001Revenue publishes customer service standards targets and resultsThe Inland Revenue has published the results of its customer service audit over the past year as well as its service targets for 2001 - 2002.READ →
- 24 AUG 2001Blunkett's new immigration scheme gets language targetForeign workers entering the country under David Blunkett's new immigration scheme could be given language training to help them secure jobs.READ →
- 17 AUG 2001Brown targets 'bogus self-employed' in Treasury crackdownChancellor Gordon Brown says the Treasury will crack down on the 'bogus self-employed', beginning with the construction industry.READ →
- 14 AUG 2001RIP Act guidance set for public consultationThe Home Office has published a draft Code of Practice on Accessing Communications Data using the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA), for…READ →
- 30 JUL 2001Employment Agencies Act reforms delayed amid industry disquietReforms to the Employment Agencies Act, including a ban on 'quarantine periods', have been delayed until later this year amid disquiet over the…READ →
- 15 JUL 2001Regulatory task force tells Government to stop playing gamesLord Haskins, Chairman of the Better Regulation Task Force, has hit out at the Government after a report found that regulators' mode of operating is…READ →
- 11 JUL 2001DTI explains rules to curb abuse of fixed-term contractsThe DTI has explained how forthcoming rules on fixed-term working will restrict the use of successive fixed-term contracts ahead of the directive.READ →
- 6 JUL 2001'Genuine businesses are not affected by IR35' says PMGThe Paymaster General - Dawn Primarolo has told the House of Commons that 'Genuine businesses are not affected by IR35' in a written answer to a…READ →
- 5 JUL 2001Latest Fast-track figures revealedUpdated figures for the Government's Fast-track visa and work permit system, designed to speed-up the importation of skilled foreign IT workers, have…READ →
- 3 JUL 2001Hewitt pledges DTI shake-up to put small business firstNew DTI Secretary Patricia Hewitt has unveiled plans to overhaul the department and put small businesses first as part of a productivity drive.READ →
- 29 JUN 2001Blunkett eyes Green Card scheme to replace Fast-track permitsHome Secretary David Blunkett is considering replacing the IT 'Fast-track' work permit scheme with a new 'Green Card' system to ease the skills…READ →
- 14 JUN 2001The Cabinet re-shuffle: Implications for contracting industryThe Prime Minister's Government re-shuffle has broken down some of the bigger Departments whilst transferring existing powers and responsibilities…READ →
- 14 JUN 2001E-Envoy calls Government's IT targets "unhelpful"E-Envoy Andrew Pinder has called the Prime Minister's targets for a full electronic service by 2005 "unhelpful" in a speech to international IT…READ →
- 30 MAY 2001E-minister temporarily rewrites Labour's controversial NI policyPatricia Hewitt, the Minister for E-commerce, appeared to rewrite Labour's policy on National Insurance recently, saying that "Tony Blair and Gordon…READ →
- 22 MAY 2001EU plan to store communications data for seven years leakedLeaked documents obtained by Statewatch reveal EU governments, backed by Britain, want to retain phone, email, fax and internet data for up to seven…READ →
- 21 MAY 2001Conservatives release business manifestoThe Conservative Party has today (Monday 21st May) released their business manifesto, promising to scrap red tape and a range of corporate taxes.READ →