|
Update No.18 - High Court Ruling in PCG's
Judicial Review
Background briefing
The High Court judgement in the judicial review which the Professional
Contractors Group brought against the Government will be given
at 10.30am on Monday, April 2, 2001. This note outlines the
PCG's operational arrangements for the day.
PCG, which represents more than 12,500 small businesses, brought
the legal action against the Government over the controversial
'stealth tax on small businesses', IR35, in the High Court from
March 13-15 and 19-20, 2001.
The five-day case claimed that IR35 contravenes European legislation
on three counts (state aid; freedom of movement and Human Rights)
and therefore should be removed from the Statute Books. The
PCG won the permission hearing on all counts last October after
the Revenue was defeated in its attempt to prevent the case
being heard.
Immediately after the decision on Monday April 2, representatives
from the PCG will be available for brief comments outside the
High Court, The Strand, London WC2. Thereafter, the PCG will
also be operating a communications and press office in the upstairs
floor of the Cheshire Cheese, 5 Little Essex Street, London
WC2 - opposite the High Court from 11.30am to 7pm. (PLEASE NOTE:
This is NOT Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese in Fleet Street). Journalists
and photographers are invited to attend the Cheshire Cheese
for one-to-one interviews, briefings or photographs throughout
the day with the PCG chairman, directors and members.
There is a comprehensive briefing on the background to the
case and the PCG on the PCG's web-site
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk.
Updates and comments on the Court's decision will be available
on PCG's dedicated news-site
http://www.ir35update.co.uk
throughout the day.
IR35 was announced in a press notice after the March 1999 Budget.
It treats small businesses in the knowledge-based sector as
'disguised employees' for tax and NI purposes, thereby preventing
them from operating on similar terms to their larger competitors.
Notes to editors.
- The Professional Contractors Group was formed in May 1999
to lobby against the Government's IR35 proposals. It is a
non-party political group and its patrons are cross-bench
peer, Lord Weatherill, former Speaker of the House of Commons;
and industry guru Sir John Harvey-Jones. Since its formation
it has evolved into the representative body for independent
contractors from many disciplines including IT and engineering
on many issues affecting the knowledge-based sector. It is
the fastest growing trade association in the country and now
has more than 12,500 members.
- The PCG's aim is to work for proper recognition of independent
contractors as a genuine and valuable sector of the economy,
generating wealth and employment, providing industry with
a flexible workforce. The Internet has been the primary resource,
providing fast, effective communication.
For further information or to arrange advance facilities or
interviews, please contact PCG's press officer:
Susie Hughes: [email protected]
|
