ACCA’s Policy Team is working to develop recommendations and lobby for government policy to support members and the businesses they advise. The team maintains close relationships with a number of government departments and ministers to ensure that members have clear and relevant guidance.
Members have been sharing a range of helpful insight and experiences which we have reported back in response to government requests for business intelligence and our targeted lobbying and we continue to welcome a broad range of views and insight from members to shape lobbying at UKPolicy@accaglobal.com
Meeting with Small Business Commissioner and response to Prompt Payment Code reform consultations
On 9 October ACCA brought together members from private sector, not for profit and education sectors for a discussion on the government’s proposed reform of the Prompt Payment Code (PPC). Special guest and Small Business Commissioner, Philip King, opened by talking briefly about how the PPC had been strengthened in recent years. Members went on to give perspectives on how to improve large scale adherence to the code.
Using member feedback in both the roundtable and an online survey, ACCA responded to the government consultation, highlighting the importance of prompt payment in addressing current heightened cashflow concerns and the need to highlight poor practice more visibly for suppliers needing to do due diligence on serial late payers.
ACCA attends No10 business leaders call with Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
On 20 October, ACCA’s Chief Executive, Helen Brand, was invited to join a call with Prime Minister Boris Johnson MP and Chancellor of the Duchy Michael Gove MP on preparations for the end of the Brexit transition period.
Following on from this ACCA’s Policy Team attended a Cabinet Office and HMRC information session on border processes and intermediaries. We will use these information sessions to bring members up to date guidance and support any technical queries throughout the post-Brexit transition.
(Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove MP addresses industry forum)
House of Lords Economic Affairs Finance Bill Sub-Committee
On 23 October, ACCA’s Head of Tax, Jason Piper, gave evidence to the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee’s Finance Bill Sub-Committee on the Draft Finance Bill 2020-21 and HMRC powers. Jason spoke about measures to prevent promoters of tax avoidance and simplification of the tax system to support HMRC work on compliance. You can watch the session on Parliament TV here.
Late payment: Continuing our work on tackling late payment culture, ACCA has been invited to feed into the government’s open consultation on the scope and powers of the Small Business Commissioner. Members can help shape ACCA recommendation via our member survey
Support for director dividends: Company director dividends have not been eligible for income support in any of the support packages announced by the Chancellor. Members were in touch on this issue since March and ACCA set up a meeting between Lib Dem spokesperson for business, Sarah Olney MP, members and the Forgotten Ltd Campaign Group to discuss how support could be extended for the three million businesses ‘left behind’. We are seeking to refresh our proposition to the Treasury about how these businesses dividend flows might be identified and support extended. Members are invited to get in touch with recommendations via UKPolicy@accaglobal.com
