Business and Other Briefings
BIS: Two of the UK’s most important growth industries received a boost last week, as Skills Minister, John Hayes announced a new NationalSkillsAcademy (NSA) for Composites & Biotechnology. The Academy, which will form part of the National Skills Academy for Process Industries, will receive up to £1.98m of funding over 3 years, matched by employers.
It will work with employers, the Life Sciences Advisory Council, the National Composites Centre and specialist training providers to develop new professional standards and training programmes that meet the fast evolving skills needs of these hi-tech industries.
WAG: The Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones, last week told businesses that his plans to make Next Generation broadband available to all businesses in Wales represent a significant opportunity the private sector. He will call on businesses to join him in creating a truly digital economy. Welsh Ministers have set a target for all businesses to have access to Next Generation broadband by mid-2016, and all households by 2020 - ahead of European targets.
MoD: An independent review will investigate whether pricing rules for single supplier defence contracts can be modernised to deliver better value for money, the MOD has announced. Lord Currie of Marylebone will chair a review of single source procurement - which is currently subject to 'Yellow Book' rules - where only one defence supplier is invited to tender.
HMRC: Revenue & Customs Brief 05/11 This Brief announces a simplification of the 'change in use' provisions that will take effect from 1 March 2011.
This brief explains minor changes to the option to tax for land and buildings (anti-avoidance rule), and in particular the treatment of occupation by grantors.
This Brief explains HM Revenue & Customs' (HMRC) policy following the First Tier Tribunal decision in the case of John Price (TC/2010/01287).
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