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This week's news on Out-Law.com
Technology
First person is charged under new UK bribery laws, prosecutors say
A court clerk is the first person to be charged with an offence under new UK
bribery laws, prosecutors have said.
01/09/2011
EU online shoppers double in number but changes to laws needed, new study says
The number of EU consumers buying over the internet doubled in a five year
period, according to a study published by the European Parliament.
01/09/2011
'Democracy website' organisation launches transport complaints site
An organisation which has previously helped voters to use internet technologies
to keep tabs on MPs has launched a service to help UK commuters to provide
collective feedback on public transport services.
31/08/2011
Children should be taught importance of privacy in mainstream education, ICO says
Pupils should learn about privacy and information rights at school, the UK's
data protection watchdog has said.
31/08/2011
Online defamation court cases on the rise, research says
The number of online defamation cases brought to English and Welsh courts has
more than doubled in the past year, a new report has said, according to media
reports.
30/08/2011
Advertising code not cookie law compliant, data protection watchdogs say
Companies signed up to a self-regulatory code on online behavioural advertising
may still not be compliant with EU laws on cookies, EU privacy watchdogs have
said.
29/08/2011
Tax
Ruling will not impact employment agency VAT rules, says HMRC
A Tax Tribunal ruling will not change policy on the VAT that employment agencies
should pay, HMRC has said.
01/09/2011
Lump sum motoring expenses subject to NICs if not linked to mileage, tribunal says
Employers will have to be more careful about how they pay their employees for
motoring expenses after a tax tribunal ruling (9-page / 63KB PDF) that lump-sum
allowances could be subject to national insurance contributions (NICs).
01/09/2011
Pensions
Half of workers unaware of pension auto-enrolment reforms
More than half of workers are "totally unaware" that they will be auto-enrolled
into a pension plan when changes to the law come into force next year, according
to a survey.
01/09/2011
Litigation and arbitration
Judges should be wary of social media, says guidance
Judges should be wary of social media, says guidance
Judges should take care when publishing personal information which could be used
by criminals on social networking sites, the Judiciary of England and Wales has
warned.
29/08/2011
Banking and restructuring
OFT could prevent debt management companies from using social media
Debt management companies could be prevented from contacting consumers through
social media after a regulator review revealed "widespread problems with
misleading advertising" in the sector.
01/09/2011
New pre-pack insolvency rules to be delayed
New laws aimed at regulating pre-packaged insolvency sales will be delayed until
at least next April, the government has confirmed.
26/08/2011
Corporate
Simpler financial reporting requirements for small companies proposed
As many as five million small businesses could benefit from simpler financial
reporting requirements, according to recently published Government proposals.
30/08/2011
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