9th July, 2001 - 24/01 JR Appeal news

In this issue:

• Legal Challenge fund - Judicial Review Appeal
  
• Lobbying - FTWD
  
• Agency Regulations
  
• Recent BECTU ruling
  
• PCG takes stage at Jobserve event
  
• Member services - Tax Investigation Insurance
  
• Members Resolution
  

Judicial Review Appeal
The PCG moved considerably closer to confirming that it will proceed with the judicial review appeal this week after finalising costs for its expenditure to date - which were less than originally budgeted for.

PCG had 'prudently' estimated what the potential costs to date would be - however, the final figure, which has now been confirmed by legal advisors, is £115,000 less than had been ear-marked. That surplus has been added to the on-going PCG judicial appeal fund, giving it a welcome injection of cash and taking the 'Fund-O-Meter' ever closer to the point where the Group can proceed with the Appeal.

PCG's Chairman, Jane Akshar said: "This is a welcome and significant boost to the judicial review appeal fund. PCG and our lawyers had made cautious estimates of what our costs could be so that there would be no hidden surprises along the way. Now we have the final figures in, our lawyers have confirmed we are in a position to release £115,000 we held in reserve to the on-going fund. This takes us considerably nearer our target to proceed with the legal action aimed at having IR35 struck down as contrary to European law.

"The Board of Directors has always been supportive of continuing with the legal process, but is firmly of the opinion that the final decision rests entirely with the membership who will decide whether or not to fund the action."

PCG is still reliant on contributions from members to fund the legal challenge. Members who wish to contribute to the fund should go to: https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/members/legal/legalpledge.html

The judicial review is one part of PCG's overall strategy relating to IR35 and other issues affecting contractors. https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/members/newsletter_010517.html

Lobbying - FTWD
PCG is following up the submission regarding the Fixed Term Working Directive with a meeting with the DTI later this month. The main concerns 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 Small Service Business.

The submission can be found at https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/members/resources/fixed_term_working_directive.pdf

Lobbying - Agency Regulations
PCG will be back at the DTI in July to represent contractor's views regarding the agency regulations. Members may be aware that agency body, REC are threatening their own judicial review of the proposed legislation.
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/resources/agencyregs.html

Lobbying - BECTU Case
PCG noted the European Court ruling and the right to paid annual leave for all 'workers'. As yet the implications for limited company contractors is still unclear. https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/resources/PCGNotice_BECTUruling.pdf

Jobserve
PCG will have a speaking slots and an exhibition stand at the two-day Jobserve conference in the New Connaught Rooms in London Friday 13th and Saturday 14th July. Chair Jane Akshar will use the seminar as an opportunity to promote PCG to potential members and also any agencies or clients who are present. Jane is speaking at circa 4pm on Friday and between 12 and 1pm Saturday. https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=Notice-337&p;=0&v;=c&s;=5

Member services - Tax Investigation Insurance
The number of services available to PCG members has increased quickly and consistently and we know that many members join to access specific benefits. In each newsletter we will 'profile' a service and provide details to ensure that members are getting the most value from their PCG membership. More details of member services can be found at https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/guide.htm

Tax Investigation Insurance
As a PCG member, you automatically receive this insurance cover as it is *included* in membership -part of the £100 subscription is passed direct to the insurance company to pay for this service.

The policy covers all tax, NI and VAT investigations and insures members against the cost of inspection by IR / customs and excise. In the event of an investigation, members must immediately notify the tax consultancy team - who will provide advice directly or where appropriate will work with the member's retained advisors.

The insurance covers the cost of professional advice during an investigation and excludes any tax owed, interest or penalties. The cover is for the business affairs of the members company and is aimed primarily at the main contracting / consultancy business (in the case of multiple income streams). You must remain a PCG member to continue this coverage. Full details at https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/tax_invest_insurance.html

An indication of the value of PCG services is available at https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/resources/pcg_value.htm

Members' resolutions
There is a members' forum on the site where members can post their own resolutions and seek support. Current 'live' resolutions can be viewed at:
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/wwwthreads.pl?a=l&f;=28

REGIONAL NEWS
Real Life Meetings For the latest information and to start a local group see https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/wwwthreads.pl?a=l&f;=meet

To promote your local meet through the newsletter - 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.

Thames Valley
The Thames Valley group now follow a rotating schedule:
1st Tuesday of each month - Basingstoke
2nd Wednesday of each month - Farnborough (Wednesday 11th July – Prince of Wales pub)
3rd Thursday of each month – The Ship, Wokingham (next 19th July)

Glos / Cheltenham / Ciren / Surrounding
Wednesday 18th July All welcome - meet at Golden Heart in Nettleton at around 7.30pm

West Midlands
Advanced warning of the meet proposed Monday 6th August at Rose & Crown, on A435 near Jn 3 M42.

Susie Hughes
(Head of Executive Services)

This newsletter is published by the Professional Contractors Group. Please feel free to circulate the newsletter to other independent contractors who you know, and who may be interested in joining the PCG. Some links in the newsletter will take you into the password-protected members' area of the PCG website. If you have forgotten your password, contact https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/scripts/public/access/form.pl

To view the Forum links in this newsletter, you must be first logged into the Forum. Further details available at https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/members/discussion_forum.html