1. The structure of health and safety law
Key changes and developments since last year
• In February 2017, the Tory government announced that it would increase the small claims limit for work-related personal injury claims from £1,000 to £2,000.
• In March 2017, the Tory government published a white paper on the Great Repeal Bill providing detail on how it intended to convert European Union (EU law) into UK law and amend the law post-Brexit.
• The June 2017 general election resulted in a hung parliament, creating uncertainty as to both the terms under which the UK will exit from the EU and the future of health and safety law.
• Several union-backed test cases in the employment tribunal have won important victories securing rights for workers in the so-called “gig economy”.
• A Department of Work and Pensions select committee has published a review – Self-employment and the gig economy.
• The government-commissioned Taylor review into modern employment practices is expected to publish its findings in July 2017.