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"Online filing is a quicker, convenient way for employers to send their Employer's Annual Return (P14s and P35),” said Jayne Hare HMRC Business Services Manager. “Employers with fewer than 50 employees can get up to £575 tax-free if they file online. Our presentations will explain how they can qualify, and also answer questions they may have about any aspect of their returns," she added. The sessions, which begin this week and run until December, are taking
place at fifteen sites around the region.
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HM
Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will be running a series of Internet workshops
across Yorkshire this autumn designed to show employers how they can
make savings by using online tax return systems, it has been announced.
Savings gained through using the web-based process range from £75
up to £575, giving a clear benefit for businesses in adopting
the technology.
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"I'm looking forward to meeting students in Chatham today to hear what they think of online government services,” said Mr. Murphy. “It is very important that we find out direct from those in
higher and further education what they like so that we can continue
to deliver great services. It is equally vital to hear from those who
don't use the internet to discover what is holding them back and how
the Government can help,” he added. |
Jim
Murphy, e-government Minister, will meet with students from Mid Kent
College today to hear opinions and views of existing online public services.
"This innovative approach to training will mean hundreds and thousands of NHS staff can improve their knowledge of infection control and really help in driving down avoidable infections,” said CNO Christine Beasley, launching the service. “I would like to see everyone, from Chief Executives and consultants right through to cleaners and healthcare assistants accessing this resource and improving their knowledge and skills." The tool has been launched after successful pilot schemes at sites
including Nottingham City Hospital Trust and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. |
A
new online training tool for NHS staff which aims to raise awareness
of the key procedures needed to help reduce infection has been launched,
at the Infection Control Nurses Association (ICNA). Available for use
by both clinical and non-clinical staff, the training topics on the
programme include hand hygiene, environmental cleanliness and waste
disposal. The programme offers users an individual record of progress,
and flexible availability as it is online – allowing employees
access as and when they have the time.
A new type of spam email that features an automatic music file is set to become the scourge of offices, according to a new report by analysts. The embedded Midi files begin to play music as soon as the email is previewed or opened, giving the user little or no option in the matter, says Email Systems. Although largely harmless at this stage, the trend could open the doors for more malicious applications, and further underlines the inventiveness of spam producers in attracting attention. The process could be used to embed cookies or similar files on recipient’s computers, with a range of potential negative outcomes. “Whilst the music itself is fairly harmless, it is a sign that spammers are increasingly willing to embed information within the spam emails being distributed,” explained Neil Hammerton, CEO of Email Systems. “What is worrying with this latest trend is that many users who have not muted the volume control on their PC may become the unwitting targets. At the very least, these musical mails has the potential to make the recipient appear to be the object of ridicule amongst colleagues – and the potential is there for the effect to be far more than that of just ridicule. Clearly this is entirely unsuitable for the corporate environment.”
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New research on product and system testing has revealed that the process has become largely the sole responsibility of IT managers, rather than business managers, despite its strategic importance to companies. The situation has in turn led to high failure rates, says the study. ‘Testing Times for Board Rooms’, by LogicaCMG, found that 73% of European companies surveyed said that accountability for testing lay with IT directors, IT managers or software developers. Other key findings from the investigation were that half of the European organisations polled said that their new software developments went live later than planned and a third of respondents claimed that the push to meet ‘go-live’ deadlines was a main reason for poor testing. “Considering that our survey shows that 68% of IT heads think too many products and systems are launched without sufficient testing, and 89% of respondents said they had problem-ridden systems 48 hours after go live, it is a surprise to see that IT managers are accepting responsibility without a suitable level of business support,” said Alex Garrick, general manager, managed testing at LogicaCMG. “Poor availability of testing resources and capability (cited by 85% of respondents) and skills required to test new developments (78% of respondents) are largely to blame.” “It is clear from our research that software testing is not properly
aligned with the needs of the business,” added Alex Garrick. |
An eBay trader selling counterfeit goods over the popular auction website has been sentenced to nine months imprisonment and ordered to pay back £70,000 following an investigation by the London Borough of Croydon Trading Standards Authority and the Assets Recovery Agency Financial Investigators. Simon Edward Hurley pleaded guilty of sixteen offences relating to the Trade Marks Act 1994 following public complaints over the sale of Manchester United FC branded items. It was determined that Hurley, using a number of ‘covert identities’, sold over 6600 items on eBay between March and December 2003 for over £104,500. ARA Director Jane Earl said: "This case shows how ARA can help local councils take action against assets which have been derived from unlawful activity. Counterfeiters need to realise that the Proceeds of Crime Act provides law enforcement with powers to hit them where it hurts, in their pockets." Councillor Paul Smith, Croydon Council Cabinet Member for Public Protection and Crime Reduction, added: "This is a magnificent effort from Croydon Trading Standards officers, whose painstaking investigation has put an end to a criminal enterprise that was duping hundreds of innocent internet buyers who believed they were buying the real thing." "It is extremely satisfying to learn that this man will not profit
from his crimes, and this case should send out a warning that we can
and will seek to recover the proceeds of criminal activity."
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