Capita wins £565m in government contracts – despite major data breach May 25, 2023 Capita was today confirmed as the government’s chosen partner in two contracts worth a combined total of £565m – despite two recent major data breaches, the impact of which is still being investigated. The firm said the investigation and clear up will cost between £15m and £20m – this includes “further steps [taken] to ensure [...]
Even if you do buy a home, the pestilence of service charges could make it unaffordable May 10, 2023 Tenants and leaseholders have been paying thousands of pounds of overcharge for the services provided by their housing associations because of a lack of oversight and accountability, writes Elena Siniscalco
Over 50s and retirees want to work more, so long as it’s flexible April 28, 2023 A lack of flexible job opportunities is keeping over 50s out of the workforce and preventing retirees from returning to employment according to a survey. Insurance giant Zurich UK found nearly one in five UK adults over 50 were deterred from applying for new jobs because of a lack of flexible working opportunities. Timewise found [...]
Who has been hit hardest by £21bn of pandemic fraud, and will the taxpayer EVER get it back? March 30, 2023 The UK Government has lost £21bn worth of taxpayers money due to fraud since the start of the pandemic, that is “very unlikely” to be unrecovered, according to the National Audit Office (NAO). The NAO said that many public bodies are unaware of the amount of fraud they face, as it revealed that levels of [...]
Backlash from over 50s may force government to delay increase in state pension age to 68 until after election March 30, 2023 Plans to increase the state pension age to 68 have been delayed, according to reports. Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride is expected to address MPs in the Commons on Thursday, when he is expected to update them on the latest statutory review on the pension age. According to reports in the i and the [...]
Ministers shelve plans to lift state pension age due to fear over backlash from middle-aged voters March 22, 2023 Ministers have reportedly shelved plans to raise the UK’s state pension age, over concerns of a backlash from middle-aged voters in the run-up to the next general election. The UK’s state pension age is currently set to rise from 66 to 68 after 2044. The UK government had, however, planned to bring this date [...]
Budget ‘returnerships’: Will Jeremy Hunt’s plans to get over 50s back to work, work? March 15, 2023 Scrapping the lifetime allowance on pensions was just one of several measures announced in the Spring Budget aimed at getting the over 50s back to work, Many argue the move will only affect one per cent of the population, and was aimed at stopping an exodus of NHS doctors – who have often built up [...]
State pension: Government extends National Insurance top-up contribution deadline March 7, 2023 The government has confirmed the deadline for filling gaps in state pension National Insurance (NI) contribution records will be extended from 5 April 2023 to 31 July this year The April deadline applied to back payments from 2006, but concerns had been raised people were struggling to get through to jammed HMRC phonelines. The update [...]
Sadiq Khan urges government to commit to making all public bodies a ‘safe haven for women’ March 6, 2023 Sadiq Khan is urging the government to back his call for a review of “women-friendly” workplace policies ahead of International Women’s Day. The mayor of London is calling for public bodies to commit to supporting female workers with domestic abuse, gynaecological pain, leadership development, and the menopause. He has written to work and pensions secretary [...]
100,000 civil servants to walk out on Budget Day, union says February 7, 2023 Around 100,000 civil servants are set to strike on Budget Day, their union has announced, amid a campaign of walkouts over pay disputes. The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) said it was escalating action after a “lack of movement” from the government over its concerns over pay, pensions and job security. Walkouts will take [...]