Policy Update 1st August 2023

Welcome to this week’s policy update. As ever please do get in touch with me, [email protected], if you would like to discuss the following, or other, business issues, put forward your views and/or provide real life examples that we can use in lobbying activity.

Over the quarter to June, British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) undertook on your behalf, 17 meetings with Secretaries of State or Ministers and 27 meetings with MPs, and participated in 206 policy groups and briefings. These included, for example, meetings with the Chancellor, Secretary of States for Education and for Transport, Department for Business & Trade Ministerial Team (DBT), Business Connect, Leader of the Opposition, Shadow Ministers for DBT and for Education, Work & Pensions Select Committee Chair, Business & Trade Committee Chair, QES Parliamentary Briefing, Liberal Democrat Party spokespeople, Trade Unlocked Conference, UK Domestic Advisory Group meeting and sub-committee meetings, evidence session to European Parliament sub-committee on TCA implementation, Home Affairs Select Committee, Local Government Association, Association of Colleges and Times Conferences,?Nigerian High Commission delegation to the UK and Trade Association Forum.

Examples of policy impact in that period include:

• Retained EU Law (REUL). Following extensive advocacy from BCC, the government withdrew the sunset clause in the legislation which would have applied on 31 December 2023, revoking thousands of EU-derived laws without sufficient time for review. Instead, the government will focus on revoking wholly or partially around 600 laws which they have found to have limited impact on the economy.
• Electronic Trade Documents Bill confirmed implementation date from September 2023. BCC advocated for passage of this legislation.
• Funding simplification. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has published its plan for simplifying the funding landscape for local authorities. Their plan sets out their ambition for increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the current funding system. This is great progress as the BCC and the Chamber Network have campaigned on this extensively over the past few years, raising it with DLUHC Ministers and?special advisers, as well as asking HM Treasury to intervene. In addition, Chambers and members had a round table with DHLUC to press the urgency of action on this point.

?Key points of the recent announcement on funding simplification from DLUHC delivering on commitments made within the Levelling Up White Paper are as follows. Through simplifying processes for local authorities this should in turn benefit us all through faster, more effective and more autonomous implementation of initiatives locally. You can read the plan here: Simplifying the funding landscape for local authorities - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). It aims to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the current funding system, detailing details three main phases for change:

1. Immediate simplification of existing funds and communication. This includes a new ‘Simplification Pathfinder Pilot’ to test the streamlined delivery of capital funding in a small group of local authorities. It is also amending the project adjustment request process for the Levelling Up Fund, Town Deals and Future High Streets Fund, giving local authorities more flexibility to change projects.
2. A new ‘Funding Simplification Doctrine’ requiring departments to strive for a simpler and more streamlined way of delivering funding to local authorities, including considering allocative distribution approaches.
3. Reforms to be implemented at the next Spending Review, including multi-year, single departmental-style funding settlements for the trailblazer Mayoral Combined Authorities and better join up across interconnected policy areas and investment programmes.

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Alongside the plan, they published a local growth and place funds register (to improve transparency and help stakeholders navigate the local funding landscape), a funding glossary (to help applicants understand technical funding terms when submitting funding applications) and updated guidance for accountable bodies on changes to the Project Adjustment Request process for Town Deals,?the Levelling Up Fund, and the Future High Street Fund, providing more autonomy to some local authority funders.

The team at BCC continue to be out and about working on your behalf.?Activity with MPs will be lower than usual over the coming weeks because of the summer recess but this week:

• William Bain, Head of Trade Policy is meeting with the Earl of Minto, Minister for Regulatory Reform at the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
• The BCC policy team will be meeting with DBT officials?to discuss Shared Parental Leave.

Last week the BCC took part in a discussion hosted by British Chambers in the EU and Belgium on prospects for an improved economic relationship between the EU and the UK.

We are working with the BCC on budget asks in the lead up to the Autumn Statement. Please feed in any views to me, [email protected].

Last week also, the BCC took part in a briefing on the latest progress on the services negotiations. UK trade negotiations with India are due to resume shortly ahead of the G20 summit in New Delhi. You can read more here: Joint outcome statement: UK-India round eleven FTA negotiations - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

The final version of the Border Target Operating Model on GB inbound controls on food and other goods is expected within the next few weeks from the Cabinet Office.

If any Chamber members would like to take part in a virtual roundtable on trade with Switzerland please let me know, [email protected].

Last week, the World Trade Organisation announced that the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference will take place in Abu Dhabi from 26th– 29th?February 2024. You can find out more here: WTO | 2023 News items - WTO members elect Chairperson for 13th Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi.

The next BCC Trade Policy Committee meeting is on 29th August. If you have any views or issues you would like to feed in then please let me know, [email protected].

The Department for Business and Trade and the Financial Reporting Council are conducting a review of the non-financial reporting (NFR) requirements for UK companies. The review is focused on the NFR requirements UK companies need to comply with to produce their Annual Report and to meet broader requirements that sit outside of the Companies Act.?You can see the call for evidence here: Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management and read more about the consultation here: Home | Financial Reporting Council (frc.org.uk). We’re working with BCC and other Chambers to produce a combined response, so to inform this we would like to gather views and experiences from Chamber members on the current NFR framework and guidance. This can include feedback from those who prepare reports or companies who are obligated to produce them. Please send any comments to me, [email protected] by noon on Friday 4th August.

Call for input around the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. As you may be aware the UK recently joined the CPTPP. Once Parliament returns from summer recess a lengthy ratification period will kickstart with the UK government introducing new primary legislation in the House of Commons. In preparation for this, BCC would like to hear from any Chamber members - particularly around any areas that they are concerned about, including any possible issues or difficulties with the UK joining CPTPP. If you have anything in mind, please get in touch with me, [email protected] by 29th August.

Employers' views sought on insecure work. The Work Foundation at Lancaster University and Chartered Management Institute are currently focused on how to tackle insecure work through improved management practices. Insecure work can take different forms. The Work Foundation classifies these forms under three dimensions: contractual insecurity, financial insecurity and workers’ rights insecurity. Some of these dimensions overlap, for example, part-time work (contractual) and low wages (financial) are often related. The Work Foundation would like to speak with individuals who manage people and work in sectors where insecure work is common. Workshop participants will receive ￡30 for their time.?You can register your interest in taking part here: Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management.

Cumbria Tourism would like to thank everyone who completed the recent questionnaire and/or attended the stakeholder event to gather views on the development of Cumbria’s new five-year Destination Management Plan (DMP). Your involvement is invaluable and they are now collating all your feedback and evidence to scope a framework for the plan. They will share more opportunities for you to get involved in shaping the new DMP after the summer holiday period, and as the Chamber we will also continue to participate in this on your behalf.

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We have also contributed to the consultation on ticket office closures, highlighting concerns in particular around the impact on people with disabilities, visitors, others with language challenges and young/vulnerable people.

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As Cumbria Chamber of Commerce and LSIP Lead for Cumbria we have input into the consultation on Maths to 18 and how this can best meet the needs of employers, including highlighting the need to?ensure the curriculum is focussed on real life examples so that students at every stage are working on practical examples that they will come across in the workplace.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards is urging consumers and businesses to check Vevor products following more than 90 recalls and safety alerts.?The affected items range from welders, drills, waffle makers and milkshake machines for both business and domestic use. This includes those recently purchased either via the company’s online marketplace or via another route. You can find out more here: Consumers urged to check Vevor products - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

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On Monday 11th September, 9.30am - 3.30pm, Lord Inglewood will be joining up with Councillor Mark Fryer, Leader of Cumberland Council and Councillor Jonathan Brook, Leader of Westmorland and Furness Council to talk about how Cumbria is leading the way to net zero. Cumbria already creates 5.6% of the UK’s clean energy generation, has major projects in the pipeline that will increase energy generation, ambitious plans to decarbonise and exceptional natural capital. The combination of these mean that we are uniquely placed to lead the way on net zero. During the day there will be an opportunity to hear from those that are at the forefront of this exciting agenda. You can book here: LEADING THE WAY TO NET ZERO Tickets, Patterson Suite, Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle | TryBooking United Kingdom.

The Carer’s Leave Act 2023 could come into force as early as April 2024. This new workplace law, covering employees in Great Britain, will introduce a new and flexible entitlement to one week’s unpaid leave per year for employees who are providing or arranging care for a relative or dependant. With more than one in seven people in any workplace being a carer, it's important that employers prepare for this new legislation – and that your staff know that you support unpaid carers in the workforce. You can find out more here: The Carer's Leave Act | Carers UK. For Chamber members support on this, including relevant changes to your HR policies, will be available free through our HR service – along with 1-2-1 advice and templates on the range of HR issues.?

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