Chamber News

Reforms to simplify and strengthen companies’ non-financial reports have been confirmed after the regulations were laid before Parliament, Business Minister Jo Swinson announced. Annual reports are a shareholders’ key tool to hold quoted companies to account over the course of the financial year. From October 1 this year the reports will include additional information on human rights issues, gender representation across the company and disclosures on greenhouse gas emissions.

Developed in partnership with industry, the Information Economy Strategy will make it easier for businesses to access public services online, for example, by providing a single digital view of their tax affairs. It will also help 1.6 million small and medium sized businesses grow their online presence and allow them to exploit new technologies.

The House of Commons Energy Committee has decided against a proposal to build a barrage across the Severn Estuary in its current form. The Committee felt that there was not a strong enough case to prove that that the barrage would be good for the economy or the environment. According to most commentators, it is now very unlikely that the government will back the proposal. However, the Committee did state that the government should remain open to considering an alternative project in the Severn.

In Parliament last week, the BCC’s Adam Marshall gave evidence to the House of Lords EU Sub-Committee, highlighting the views of Chamber members regarding the EU and the single market. In other news, BCC research was discussed by Baroness Coussins and Nic Dakin MP, who tabled parliamentary questions based on the BCC’s recent report on exporting and skills, emphasising the importance of language skills in global trade.