Enterprise Bill

The Enterprise Bill was given a Second Reading yesterday. Among many new provisions it creates a new Small Business Commissioner who will provide advice and information on dispute and contracts. The Commissioner will deal with complaints about late payment. The Bill also provides a power for the Secretary of State to set apprenticeship targets for public bodies. The Bill further makes it an offence to describe a course as an “apprenticeship” that does not meet the requirements of a statutory apprenticeships. Contracts of insurance will have an implied term that claims are to be paid within a reasonable time.