http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/ Wilson Nesbitt Solicitors - News RSS feed en-gb reception@wilson-nesbitt.co.uk,chris@flamegreen.com info@flamegreen.com 30 http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1815/15032010/gordon_brown_says_ba_strike_is_deplorable_and_not_in_national___interest.html The Prime Minister weighed in on the long running BA strike issue today, demanding that the Union cancel its planned cabin crew strike saying it was "deplorable". The Unite union had announced that strike action would commence this Saturday after repeated failed... Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:00 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1817/15032010/disproportionate_percentage_of_employment_claims_come_from_public_sector.html Despite only 22% of the workforce being employed in the public sector it is reported that 37% of employment appeal cases are against public sector organisations, according to analysis of Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) statistics carried out by EMW Picton Howell. By contrast, the... Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:00 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1816/15032010/landlords_sink_into_bankruptcy_due_to_failing_buy_to_let_sector.html According to data released by IVA.com for March there has been a large increase in the number of professional landlords seeking serious debt advice. The company reports a 53% increase in the number of buy to let investors who are experiencing difficulties paying their creditors; the landlords... Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:00 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1812/12032010/northern_rock_writes_off_%A31billion_in_bad_debt.html The Nationalised bank Northern Rock experienced a 17% increase in bad debt of defaulting customers in 2009, resulting in a total write-off bill of £1billion. An increasing number of the banks customers fell into difficulty with payments, particularly in the first half of 2009,... Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1813/12032010/insolvency_-_paying_for_christmas_in_march.html Insolvency trade body R3 have released figures today that suggest that nearly one third of personal insolvencies confirmed in March are as a direct result of big-spending during the festive period. It is expected that there will be over 150,000 cases of personal insolvency in the UK this... Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1814/12032010/aer_lingus_restructuring_plans_brutal_and_unfair.html The Irish Airline Aer Lingus has announced restructuring plans which will result in 670 staff being laid off in a bid to save £88million; the company having previously reported £60million loss in 2009 despite a rise in passenger numbers. The Union representing the cabin... Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1809/11032010/tyrone_crystal_factory_to_close_after_lack_of_sale_interest.html Just over a week ago we reported that the staff of the Tyrone Crystal factory near Dungannon, Northern Ireland, had been advised in an internal meeting that the factory was to be sold. The company has confirmed that there was a lack of interested buyers keen to take on the factory as a going... Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1810/11032010/new_nhbc_technical_standards_come_into_effect_on_1st_april.html Builders in Northern Ireland should make sure they are acquainted with the new NHBC Technical Standards 2010 which will come into effect on 1st April, and will be in force until the end of the year. Registered builders will have already received their technical update pack at the start of... Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1811/11032010/scientists_call_for_reform_of_english_libel_laws.html Scientists are calling for a change to the English Libel laws, saying that the current legislation is used to silence scientific debate. The most recent case involves a Swedish scientist, Francisco Lacerda, and his criticism of the accuracy of lie detection technology which has cost the... Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1807/10032010/lenders_soften_approach_to_buy-to-lets.html 'Let Assured' have suggested that Lenders are now taking a more favourable approach to buy-to-lets in terms of the deposits required and the loan-to-value rations of their products. Borrowers will still largely need to find a deposit of 30%, but that will now get them access to... Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1806/10032010/job_cuts_forecast_for_april_to_june_2010_in_northen_ireland.html Despite the rest of the UK experiencing a positive turn in the employment market with more employers reportedly intending to employ staff than to reduce, the situation in Northern Ireland is bleak according to the Manpower employment outlook survey. The survey reports that the majority of... Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1808/10032010/women_are_equal_to_men_in_workplace_-_but_have_to_work_harder_and_longer.html A nationwide survey carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP asked respondents about their views on women in the workplace, and most particularly those in senior jobs. The results varied from region to region but the results do show that women have some work to do to reach true equality in... Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1805/08032010/many_svr_mortgage_holders_unaware_of_interest_rate.html A number of the UK's standard variable rate (SVR) mortgage holders are not aware of the interest rate that applies to them at present, new research suggests.This may be the case for as many as 29 per cent of these borrowers, Post Office Mortgages believes.Marco Hughes, the firm's... Mon, 8 Mar 2010 03:27:50 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1803/08032010/women_to_be_most_effected_by_rising_unemployment_levels.html A new report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development predicts that unemployment levels will continue to rise due to a "sharp" reduction in the public sector, with women to be most effected because of they represent a larger percentage of the public sector... Mon, 8 Mar 2010 00:00:00 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1802/08032010/government_scheme_to_help_make_houses_energy_efficient_welcomed_by_landlords.html The National Landlords Association (NLA) has said that private tenants and landlords would benefit greatly from the Government plans to encourage home owners to make their houses more energy efficient. The proposed Pay as You Save scheme would involve loans being made to property owners to... Mon, 8 Mar 2010 00:00:00 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1804/05032010/permanent_job_placements_saw_strong_february_growth.html A fast rate of growth was witnessed in the UK's permanent jobs market last month, research reveals.According to the findings of the latest Report on Jobs compiled by KMPG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), the last time that such a strong increase in permanent placements... Fri, 5 Mar 2010 12:25:38 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1800/05032010/%A350000_damages_for_victim_of_racial_abuse_in_mallusk_company.html Croatian Nenad Zubin, who has lived in Northern Ireland for more than 20 years, has been awarded £53,596 in damages for racial abuse suffered at his work place, Brett Martin polycarbon sheeting company in Mallusk. The award is thought to be one of the largest for a racial abuse case... Fri, 5 Mar 2010 00:00:00 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1801/05032010/supreme_court_decision_changes_when_court_can_order_a_child_to_give_evidence.html The Supreme Court decision in the appeal case of Re W has changed how family courts should approach the question of whether a child should be ordered to give live evidence in family proceedings. Prior to the decision, the case had to be deemed to be exceptional for a child to be called to... Fri, 5 Mar 2010 00:00:00 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1797/04032010/more_positive_economic_signs_should_lead_to_further_pay_rises.html More of the UK's employees could be set to see higher levels of pay this year, as improved economic signs are witnessed, it has been suggested.According to Brendan Barber, the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), inflation could also be a factor that leads to wage... Thu, 4 Mar 2010 13:10:21 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1798/04032010/northern_ireland_businesses_benefit_from_hmrc_tax_rescheduling_scheme.html Just over 7,000 businesses in Northern Ireland have been given assistance to weather the financial storm by relying on the HM Revenue & Customs' tax payment rescheduling scheme, otherwise known as the Business Payment Support Service (BPSS). An estimated £110million... Thu, 4 Mar 2010 00:00:00 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1799/04032010/british_airways_outline_measures_to_deal_with_strike_fallout.html Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways, has angered Union members by holding an internal briefing with BA staff outlining the measures the company will take during strike action to mediate disruption and to confirm that the decision to cut cabin crew members will not be reversed. ... Thu, 4 Mar 2010 00:00:00 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1795/03032010/ni_businesses_set_for_carbon_reduction_initiative.html Many businesses based in Northern Ireland and other parts of the UK will soon be encouraged to cut the amount of carbon they produce, as part of an initiative backed by the government.Financial and environmental benefits are expected to arise as a result of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, which... Wed, 3 Mar 2010 12:59:44 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1796/03032010/increased_speculation_on_when_mortgage_rates_will_go_up.html Just as economists like to predict when a housing market will peak or fall, or boom, another favourite past-time is when mortgage rates will start to go up. And in the current economic climate, with a base rate of 0.50%, there is much speculation as to when the rates will increase. What all are... Wed, 3 Mar 2010 00:00:00 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1794/02032010/young_people_need_good_quality_careers_advice.html Young people in Northern Ireland and across other regions of the UK need to be given access to good quality careers advice, to give them a sense of direction, it has been suggested.According to the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services' chief executive Margaret Dane, there are a... Tue, 2 Mar 2010 13:00:39 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1791/02032010/national_insurance_rise_could_hurt_uk_labour_market.html A forthcoming rise in National Insurance contributions could have a damaging effect on the UK's labour market, according to one expert.The Recruitment and Employment Confederation's (REC) chief executive Kevin Green feels that the increase, which is due to come into force from next... Tue, 2 Mar 2010 12:37:35 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1793/02032010/asbestos_related_pleural_plagues_no_longer_eligible_for_compensation.html Justice secretary Jack Straw has ruled that people suffering from pleural plaques, an asbestos-linked condition, will no longer be able to claim compensation. The ruling is viewed by the industry as a massive blow to working people all over the UK, and a huge success for insurance firms who... Tue, 2 Mar 2010 00:00:00 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1792/02032010/tyrone_crystal_giftware_company_for_sale.html While there has been no official statement from representatives of 'Tyrone Crystal Giftware', it has been reported that employees of the company in Dungannon were advised last Friday that the business is to be sold. It is not thought that a deal has been struck as yet, but accountants... Tue, 2 Mar 2010 00:00:00 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1788/01032010/february_saw_decrease_in_uk_house_prices.html February saw a decrease in UK house prices, according to Nationwide, with the firm recording a one per cent monthly fall.The organisation believes that the four-week period witnessed an average house price of £161,320.Chief economist at Nationwide Martin Gahbauer suggests that the cold... Mon, 1 Mar 2010 12:40:58 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1790/01032010/ex_husband_of_little_britain_star_dies_intestate.html   Matt Lucas, the comedian and actor best known for his work on 'Little Britain' will not receive any of the £1million estate of his former husband Kevin McGee who took his own life in October last year. The couple were married in 2006 in a flamboyant civil... Mon, 1 Mar 2010 00:00:00 UTC http://www.wilson-nesbitt.com/articles/1787/26022010/energy_efficiency_may_play_greater_role_in_mortgage_market.html Energy efficiency might have a major impact on people's ability to gain mortgages in the future, according to one expert.People could be required to demonstrate their commitments to eco-friendly house improvements when seeking a mortgage, the National Home Improvement Council's (NHIC)... Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:34:32 UTC