31st May, 2001 - 21/01 PCG update & election

PCG wins permission to appeal
Following last month’s application for leave to appeal against the JR judgement, the PCG legal team learned this week that the technical part of the appeal, the permission hearing, has been granted. Our legal advisors continue to assure us that we have a very respectable case, rating the chances of success as “50/50”.

PCG must now consider whether to continue the appeal, seek to develop relevant case law or if funds permit, do both. Members now have a chance to decide what they want to happen next as we have re-opened the legal fund. For full details and to make a donation / choice go here.

PCG gears up for election
The General Election on June 6 provides an excellent opportunity for PCG members to lobby prospective MP's on all the issues which currently affect or threaten our businesses. PCG has collated information on each of the main political parties as well as links to election sites, prospective candidates and marginal seats.

• CC member Susie Haigh contacted each of the major parties and asked for a statement on the following issues:
• IR35
• Private Security Bill
• Fixed Term Working Directive
• Employment Agency Regulations.

The PCG election info, our submissions on each of these issues and statements from the parties can all be found here.

From the hustings – report from David Ramsden, political advisor
With the election now in full swing, PCG has been looking for a statement from each of the Parties involved in the Election. Whilst we will remain apolitical in our stance, we owe it to our members to let them know where the various political parties stand on issues that affect the members of PCG.

On Friday 18th PCG were well to the fore in a political debate in Southampton. Simon Juden, PCG’s Political Director had the number two question to a panel that included the Rt.Hon John Denham, Minister of State for Health; David Willetts, Shadow Secretary of State for Social Security; David Chidgey, Lib/Dem Transport spokesman. Toni Shawley Regional Secretary of FSB completed the panel. Simon’s question concerned the amount of time taken up by small businesses complying with the huge raft of regulations that continue to sprout.

On Monday 21st David Ramsden, PCG’s political advisor attended the launch of the Conservative Party’s Business Manifesto, held in Docklands. The launch was conducted by Michael Portillo, Shadow Chancellor and David Heathcoat-Amory, Shadow Secretary of State at DTI. There had been an earlier press conference at which William Hague spoke. At both events IR35 played a prominent part, indeed at the Docklands event, it was almost an IR35 rally.

There is little doubt that PCG is an organisation known to all political parties from the Scottish Nationalists in the North to the Welsh Nationalists, to the Greens and UK Independence Party. All have agreed to provide a statement on their policies and all but one have been received.

Whichever of the three main parties win the Election, all know that the PCG will be knocking on the door and continuing to knock over issues that affect our members.

Fixed Term Working Directive
PCG’s submission to the DTI for the Fixed Term Working Directive can be found here. This is an important issue and PCG has two main concerns.

They are:

• The proposed exclusion from the legislation of workers supplied via agencies
• The issue of whether and under what circumstances the legislation might apply to workers/consultants supplied to clients via an SSB.

REGIONAL NEWS

For the latest information and to start a local group see

Forum Link (having problems?? have you read this...)

Let us promote your local meet - email [email protected] with REGIONS in the subject matter, details of the event and a name and email contact point/or phone number for further information.

Cambridge
Meet at Golden Hind, Milton Rd 7.30 on Weds 13th July

West Midlands
Monday 4th June at circa 7pm Meeting at the Rose and Crown 100yds down A435 towards Redditch, off J3 of the M42.

Chelt/Glos/Ciren
Weds 23rd May - 7:30pm Golden Heart pub, Nettleton on A417 leaving Gloucester for Cirencester.

Bristol
Date: 15th June Venue : The Brewery Tap, Colston Street, Bristol Time : 8pm

Basingstoke / Farnborough / Wokingham
Looking to meet at Hog’s Head in Basingstoke on Thursday 5th June for beer and a curry. See post in real life meetings! Then Prince of Wales in Farnborough - 13th June Wokingham on Thursday 21st June Time: 7:00 til late Place: The Ship, Wokingham

Susie Hughes
(Head of Executive Services)

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