Infozone: the briefing – 18/06/10
CAMERON APPOINTS LORD YOUNG TO REVIEW HEALTH & SAFETY LAWS
Health and safety laws will be reviewed to stop businesses becoming overwhelmed with red tape, the prime minister has announced. David Cameron has appointed Lord Young as his adviser on health and safety law and practice to undertake a Whitehall-wide review of health and safety legislation and the growth of the compensation culture. Young is expected to report to Cameron in the summer.
CLAIMANTS OUTNUMBERING JOBS BY 5 TO 1 IN THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE
Jobseekers Allowance claimants are outnumbering vacancies by up to 23 to one in some areas of the UK, according to TUC research. Analysis of Jobcentre Plus data has revealed a claimant-to-vacancy ratio of 5:1 for the country as a whole, but in London and the North East, the ratio increases to 7.6:1 and 6.1:1 respectively.
THREAT OF SPENDING CUTS PROMPTS DROP IN BUSINESS CONFIDENCE
Business confidence in the UK has seen its biggest drop since 1995 following talk of spending cuts. The Business Trends survey by accountancy firm BDO fell to 97 in May from 103.3 the previous month, which is the largest drop since the survey began. BDO said economic growth forecasts for this year and 2011 would need to be revised down sharply.
Peter Hemington, a partner at BDO, said: "The Government has understandably been keen to emphasise the extent of the sacrifices that we will all need to make as public borrowing is brought under control. But there is a significant risk the rhetoric has begun to impact on business confidence."
