The Social Market Foundation (SMF) has published a briefing warning that falling UK net migration could increase political and public tensions as attention shifts from arrivals to the status, rights and perceived impact of migrants already in the country. It argues that settlement, access to public services and benefits, and internal immigration enforcement could become more contested.

The Social Market Foundation (SMF) has published a report exploring the impact and globally interconnected nature of fraud against consumers. The report sheds light on the alarming rate of fraud globally, affecting approximately 228 million people across 15 countries between 2021 and 2023. This translates to about 5% of adults in these countries falling victim to fraud at least once, with an average annual loss of £1,060 per victim. The report emphasizes the urgent need for international cooperation to combat fraud.

Following recent Immigration Rules changes affecting international students, the Social Market Foundation (SMF) has published two complementary papers, setting out recommendations for managing the challenges of international student numbers and for reducing UK universities’ overreliance on them for their funding after the freezing of domestic fees.

The Social Market Foundation (SMF) has published a report urging the UK government to address the pension savings gap among self-employed workers. The report, commissioned in conjunction with Monzo and based on a survey of 1,000 self-employed individuals, highlights that only 20% of self-employed workers contribute to a pension compared with 78% of employees. It identifies factors such as affordability, a limited understanding of pensions and the absence of mechanisms like auto-enrolment for self-employed workers as key contributors to the disparity. The report notes that many self-employed individuals contribute irregularly, with a notable proportion saving less than once a month or only annually.

The Social Market Foundation (SMF) has published a briefing examining the Labour government's proposed joined-up immigration and skills policy. SMF has highlighted that while this approach is unlikely to reduce immigration levels significantly, it could still be politically successful if presented effectively. The briefing emphasizes the importance of addressing public concerns about immigration's impact on local employment opportunities. SMF also notes that the Immigration Skills Charge, which has raised £1.5bn, has potential to support this policy but has not been fully utilized. The analysis suggests that immigration and skills policy is becoming a crucial political issue in the UK.

System Marginal Price

Tax analysis: the First-tier Tax Tribunal (FTT) has agreed with HMRC’s assessment that a payment made by Campus Living Villages to its former employee, Ms Sexton, under a Settlement Agreement did not relieve the company of its obligation to pay Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP). This was irrespective of the fact that the Settlement Agreement had been made under the auspices of an ACAS officer. In addition, the payment of Ms Sexton’s discretionary bonus had correctly been incorporated in HMRC’s SMP calculations.

CASE HUB ARCHIVED–this archived case hub reflects the position at the date of the decision of 9 September 2014; it is no longer maintained. Case facts Outline OFT Chapter II and Article 102 TFEU investigation into Epyx Limited (Epyx) in relation to its conduct in the market for the supply of service, maintenance and repair platforms (SMR platforms) in the UK. Epyx supplies the link Service Network SMR platform in the UK. Latest developments On 9 September 2014, the CMA announced that it had accepted commitments from Epyx. The commitments remove, and in some other respects modify, potentially restrictive terms in Epyx’s contracts for the use of 1link Service Network, offering clear opportunities for competitors to enter the market, in particular by making it easier for Epyx’s current customers to switch to rivals if they choose to. The commitments will last for five years. On 4 June 2014,

Short message service. A way of exchanging short text messages between mobile phone devices.

Further to the publication of updated Home Office guidance documents in July 2024 which gave lower going rates for certain occupation codes than are in the Immigration Rules, we understand that a message has gone up on the Sponsor Management System (SMS) confirming that the Immigration Rules changes which came into force in April 2024 (HC 590) contained a number of errors where the going rates stated for occupation codes were too high. The message confirms our previous information that the Rules will be amended in the Autumn, but that the guidance can be relied on in the interim (as a concession). The SMS message only relates to Skilled Worker sponsors, although the guidance changes also affect Global Business Mobility and Scale up codes.

The Home Office has published a new version Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors part 2: sponsor a worker – general information. This contains a new Annex S2 which has important information about assigning Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) prior to the 4 April 2024 Rules changes found in Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules HC 590. The Annex states that the Sponsorship Management System (SMS) will be unavailable from 7 pm on 2 April 2024 until 9 am on 4 April 2024. This means that a CoS will need to be assigned before 7 pm on 2 April 2024 in order for an application for permission to be decided under the pre-4 April Rules.

The Securities and Markets Stakeholder Group (SMSG) has provided advice to the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) on its consultation paper regarding draft technical advice for the Prospectus Regulation and updates to metadata reporting requirements, highlighting the need for a balanced approach to simplify disclosure requirements while avoiding excessive standardisation and ensuring cost-effectiveness for market participants. The SMSG has also provided advice to ESMA’s Call for Evidence on harmonising civil liability rules for securities prospectuses under the Prospectus Regulation, noting the current non-uniform regime's risks and inefficiencies, and suggesting potential solutions including a harmonised safe harbour provision.