http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/ Wilson Nesbitt Solicitors - News RSS feed en-gb email@wilson-nesbitt.co.uk info@flamegreen.com 30 http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/754/09052008/lower_corporation_tax_would_boost_northern_irish_economy.html Having a lower level of corporation tax would act as a boost for Northern Ireland because it would help attract more "profit centres", it has been claimed.Nigel Smyth, director of CBI Northern Ireland, told BBC Radio 4's The World at One programme that although more... Fri, 9 May 2008 13:41:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/755/09052008/interest_rates_decision_disappointing_for_homeowners.html The Bank of England's (BoE's) decision to hold interest rates at five per cent was "disappointing", according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). Michael Coogan, CML director general, said that while the council does understand "the conflict between... Fri, 9 May 2008 13:39:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/756/09052008/interest_rates_kept_at_5%25.html Interest rates are to be held at five per cent, the Bank of England has announced.The hold is thought to be due to inflationary pressures which have been amplified by rising fuel and food costs.Ian McCafferty, chief economic advisor for the Confederation of British Industry, told the BBC that the... Fri, 9 May 2008 13:38:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/752/08052008/some_workers_face_sexual_abuse.html A number of migrant and vulnerable employees face sexual abuse in the workplace, according to the Trade Union Congress (TUC).Research from the body has found that such workers face a wide range of potential abuses.Secretary general of the TUC Brendan Barber told the BBC that some vulnerable... Thu, 8 May 2008 13:55:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/753/08052008/inheritances_twice_1997_level.html More people are liable to inheritance tax (IHT) bills as the average value of an inherited estate has risen to more than twice its 1997 level, according to a new study.The International Longevity Centre (ILC) has found that the average worth of an inherited estate has risen from its 1997 level of... Thu, 8 May 2008 13:54:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/749/07052008/new_anti-domestic_violence_campaign_in_northern_ireland.html A councillor in Buncrana has launched a campaign in a bid to wipe out domestic violence in the area, according to the Derry Journal.Darren Lalor has launched a postcard campaign outlining Sinn Fein's five demands for building safer communities, the paper reports.The demands, submitted to the... Wed, 7 May 2008 13:34:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/750/07052008/iht_problems_for_unmarried_couples.html Co-habiting couples who are not married or in civil partnerships are not entitled to the same inheritance tax (IHT) benefits as those who are, a firm of independent financial advisors has warned.Alex Pegley, director of Calculis, said that there is no such thing as a 'common law... Wed, 7 May 2008 13:33:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/751/07052008/female_job_applicants_face_discrimination.html Women looking for jobs are still being discriminated against because of the chance that they may become pregnant, according to the Employment Lawyers Association (ELA).The ELA's secretary Richard Linskell claimed that employers assess the likelihood of the women they offer jobs to taking... Wed, 7 May 2008 13:31:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/746/06052008/most_successful_companies_being_driven_abroad.html The government's tax policies are driving the best companies abroad to take advantage of more favourable tax rates, the Telegraph reports.Despite their previous "reputation for economic competence", the government's current tax policy problems, such as complicated... Tue, 6 May 2008 13:23:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/747/06052008/acas_launching_revised_grievance_policies.html Disputes in the workplace may be made easier to solve by new guidance on grievances and dismissals, the employment advisory service claims.The new code, produced by Acas, is now open for public consultation and takes into account the changes enforced by the Employment Bill.Minister for employment... Tue, 6 May 2008 13:22:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/748/06052008/solicitors_in_northern_ireland_popular_destinations_for_graduates.html Local law practices in areas such as Northern Ireland are just as appealing to law graduates as City law firms, according to the Times.Head of postgraduate careers at Nottingham Law School Sue Clarke told the newspaper that lawyers in the regions such as Northern Ireland are... Tue, 6 May 2008 13:20:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/745/02052008/third_of_ambulances_unfit_for_purpose.html One in three ambulances in Northern Ireland have been found to be unfit for purpose because they are too old, according to the Department of Health.The BBC reports that figures obtained by the South Down MLA Jim Wells show that a third of ambulances in the province are older than the recommended... Fri, 2 May 2008 14:00:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/742/01052008/uk_market_may_slow_but_recession_unlikely.html Mortgage lenders believe the economy will continue to slow but will avoid a full-scale recession, according to a survey by the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA).Eight out ten lenders said they believed market conditions were getting worse with 44 per cent thinking there will be two... Thu, 1 May 2008 16:07:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/744/01052008/employers_not_doing_enough_about_health_and_safety.html Large numbers of employees think their boss's business priorities focus on time and money rather than the health and safety of their staff, according to research carried out by YouGov on behalf of the Institute of Occupational Health and Safety (IOSH).The survey found that 31 per cent of... Thu, 1 May 2008 16:00:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/743/01052008/managing_future_workplace_hazards_conference_held.html The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has hosted a conference of 200 industry leaders in London to discuss safety and managing future potential hazards.Industry leaders met to discuss good practice and how to learn from recent incidents such as the fire at Buncefield, Texas City and the Thorp... Thu, 1 May 2008 16:00:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/741/01052008/house_prices_in_northern_ireland_set_for_big_drop.html The average price of a house in Northern Ireland is set for a steep reduction, according to a local economist.Richard Ramsey from the Ulster Bank told the BBC that the £250,000 peak average house price in the province could fall by up to £75,000 by the end of the... Thu, 1 May 2008 13:46:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/739/30042008/income_shifting_again_under_attack.html The practice of income shifting has again come under attack by the treasury, according to ContractorCalculator.Treasury officials are in the process of revising proposals to ban the practice, where small family businesses split their dividend income between partners in order to make the most of... Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:11:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/740/30042008/pension_values_could_fall.html Millions of Britons could see the value of their pension pot fall because of the changes in the income tax system.The chancellor has reduced the basic level of income tax from 22 to 20 per cent.Although this means basic rate taxpayers will have more money to spend, tax rebates on their pensions... Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:10:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/735/30042008/sisters_lose_out_in_inheritance_tax_battle.html A pair of co-habiting elderly sisters has been told by the European court of human rights they have not been discriminated against under UK inheritance tax (IHT) regulations.The sisters had claimed that they should be entitled to the same IHT allowances as a married or civil partnership... Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:00:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/736/30042008/asbestos_still_present_in_northern_irelands_schools.html Some 93 schools in Northern Ireland still contain cancer-provoking asbestos in their buildings, according to 4NI.co.uk.There are currently 65 Primary schools and 28 secondary schools which have asbestos insulation revealed education minister Catriona Ruane.However, "all top priority... Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:00:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/737/29042008/conference_to_consider_housing_issues_in_northern_ireland.html Housing management students from the University of Ulster are holding a conference to examine the future of the Northern Ireland property market.It will explore the issues facing housing in the province after minister for social development Margaret Richie's announcement of the new social... Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:41:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/738/29042008/police_in_antrim_offering_support_to_victims_of_domestic_violence.html The police force in County Antrim is offering support to male and female victims of domestic violence, reports the Antrim Times.According to the paper, domestic violence officer for the Antrim Police Force Angela McBride is making herself available to those suffering from any sort of domestic... Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:39:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/734/29042008/ubm_moves_to_more_favourable_irish_tax_regime.html Global business media company United Business Media (UBM) has said it plans to move its tax base to Ireland in order to make the most of the more favourable tax regime there.According to the firm, the move reflects its move closer to the international market.Despite being based in Britain, UBM... Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:48:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/731/28042008/the_right_insurance_policy_can_protect_against_neighbourly_disputes.html Householders should be looking out for insurance policies which offer legal protection against disputes with neighbours, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).Kelly Ostler-Coyle, ABI spokesperson, said that insurance of this type should be taken out "to protect against... Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:51:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/732/28042008/employers_must_understand_-_all_accidents_are_preventable.html The minister for health and safety Nigel Dodds and the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions have been commemorating those who have died in workplace accidents at International Workers' Memorial Day.Mr Dodds told the ceremony that it was appropriate to recognise... Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:49:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/733/28042008/hse_not_doing_enough_to_shame_health_and_safety_offenders.html The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is failing to do enough to name and shame those failing to protect their employees, according to the Centre for Corporate Accountability (CCA).In 2007, the HSE only issued a press release after the resolution of a third of its cases - 167 out of a total of... Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:47:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/730/28042008/rich_list_shows_regions_increasing_wealth.html The Sunday Times Rich List has shown that Northern Ireland's wealthy have risen in fortune to £10.7 billion.The Belfast Telegraph reports that the province saw one of the largest increases in wealth of any region in Britain or Ireland.Building products and financial services magnate... Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:47:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/727/25042008/ni_builders_hardest_hit_by_credit_crunch.html Builders and tradesmen in Northern Ireland are losing more building work than their peers elsewhere in the UK, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).The FMB reported that builders in Northern Ireland are reporting a workload 30 per cent lower than the average for the whole of the... Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:25:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/728/25042008/too_much_red_tape_for_ni_family_businesses.html Some seven in ten of Northern Ireland's family business owners want the government to reduce red tape and tax burdens on their firms, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).The Derry Journal reports that 58 per cent of local family businesses want the government to offer grants to... Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:24:00 BST http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/729/25042008/jumbo_jets_worth_of_people_killed_at_work_every_fortnight.html Enough people die at work to fill a jumbo jet every two weeks, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).This is due to a failure to maintain effective health and safety standards in the workplace, the society believes."If one jumbo jet crashed every two... Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:30:00 BST