The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) have issued a statement regarding its application for judicial review versus The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). ​​Following confirmation from the Administrative Court that The ABPI’s application for judicial review has been turned down, the following statement has been issued.“The ABPI is disappointed that the judicial review application has been turned down. It’s now appropriate for us to take time to reflect on the judgement with our members and decide next steps.”​The application for a Judicial Review stems from the introductionSEE DETAILS <span class="m...

The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed (IPSE) has welcomed the appointment of a Small Business Commissioner, a measure it has been calling for for several years. It emphasised the need for new Commissioner Paul Uppal to fight for the self-employed. Simon McVicker, IPSE Director of Policy said: “Late payment and non-payment by clients are a huge barrier to successfully running a business and the new Commissioner needs to hit the ground running and tackle this head-on. The average freelancer currently loses almost 20 days a year chasing invoices andSEE DETAILS

The UK new car market declined for a sixth consecutive month in September, with 426,170 new units registered, according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Registrations fell by -9.3% in this key month, as economic and political uncertainty, and confusion over air quality plans led to a fall in consumer confidence.Demand from business, fleet and private buyers all fell in September, down -5.2%, -10.1% and -8.8% respectively. Meanwhile, registrations fell across all body types except dual-purpose, which grew 2.4%. The biggest declines wereSEE DETAILS </span...

New analysis by the BRC spells out the potential cost to shoppers of leaving the EU without a tariff-free trade deal.Over three quarters of the food that the UK imports comes from the EU and without reaching an agreement on trade, most of these goods will be subject to new tariffs. As a result, the average cost of food imported by retailers from the EU would increase by 22 per cent.Further analysis, based on the proportion of European food retailers sell and the impact of new tariffs demonstrates how muchSEE DETAILS

The British Beer & Pub Association, representing Britain’s brewers and pub companies, is urging the Chancellor to cut tax on beer in the forthcoming Budget.The BBPA has launched an infographics campaign via social media, to engage industry staff, customers, and the wider public to support a cut in beer duty in the Budget on 22nd November.  The BBPA is urging everyone to get involved, by supporting the campaign on social media platforms. Social media tools will support efforts to drive traffic towards the BBPA’s www.cutbeertax.co.uk website, where anyone can quickly emailSEE DETAILS

ARLA Comments on Labour Rent Control Announcement and Conservative Private Rented Pledges.ARLA Propertymark, which claims to be the UK’s foremost professional and regulatory body for letting agents – representing over 9,000 members – has commented on proposals for rent controls put forward at the recent Labour Party Conference, and a Conservative Conference pledge to regulate private rented sector.David Cox, Chief Executive, ARLA Propertymark, says“The Labour Party clearly hasn’t learnt the lessons of history. The last time rent controls existed the private rented sector went from housing 90 per cent ofSEE DETAILS

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers the trade body representing the interests of the UK’s eating and drinking out sector says the UK needs a Hospitality Minister to promote their needs.The UK’s vital and vibrant hospitality sector must have its own dedicated Hospitality Minister, says the ALMR. Hospitality is the UK’s 3rd largest employer incorporating a wide range of sectors and businesses. With Brexit providing uncertainty for employers and costs for businesses rising, the time is right for the Government to appoint a dedicated Minister to the support the sector. ALMR ChiefSEE DETAILS

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Michael Gove’s announcement of a new call for evidence on bottle deposit return schemes, urging the Government to consider the negative impact that such schemes would have on the convenience sector.The call for evidence follows the Government’s Litter Strategy for England which was published in April, establishing the Voluntary and Economic Incentives Working Group to ‘consider the advantages and disadvantages of different types of deposit and reward and return schemes for drinks containers.’ACS chiefSEE DETAILS </span...

Penguins are birds that have fully adapted to the marine environment. At the NetXtra Breakfast Club meeting at London Zoo recently we learned how associations must also adapt their online markings, to blend with their environment, and to attract the attention on which they feed. We also learned the communication tools they must adopt to survive. Is this the latest proof of survival of the fittest?Darwinism contends that plants and animals make incremental changes over generations as they adapt to the world around them. But the rapid pace of changeSEE DETAILS

The characteristics of financial crime have changed. Bank robbery is almost a thing of the past. Even robbers aren’t stupid enough to risk capture and sentencing for a violent offence, when the rewards for online crime are just as great, but without the jeopardy! Phishing attacks, for example, rose more than a fifth (21%) in 2015, and estimated to cost Britain more than £280million.Fraud also costs the UK economy over £190 billion a year. Of which public sector losses accounted for over £37 billion in 2013/14. So, an estimate ofSEE DETAILS