2007 - Summary of key legislative changes

1 February

• The limit on the amount of the compensatory award for unfair dismissal increases from £58,400 to £60,600.  The maximum amount of a “week’s pay” for the purpose of calculating basic or additional awards of compensation for unfair dismissal and redundancy pay increases from £290 to £310.

2 April

• A ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces and workplaces will be introduced in Wales

6 April

• The Flexible Working (Eligibility, Complaints and Remedies) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 will come into force, extending the right for employees to request flexible working to include employees who have caring responsibilities.
  
  
• The Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004, which establish a framework for informing and consulting employees, will extend to employers with 100 or more employees.
  
• A new duty on public authorities will come into force, requiring public sector bodies to promote gender equality and eliminate sex discrimination in policy-making, public service delivery and employment practices.
  
• The standard rate of statutory maternity, paternity and adoption pay will increase to £112.75

30 April

• A ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces and workplaces will be introduced in Northern Ireland.

1 July

• A ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces and workplaces will be introduced in England.

October

• The Commission for Equality and Human Rights will be established, to provide a single equality body, merging the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Commission for Racial Equality and the Disability Rights Commission.
  
  
• Remaining provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 come into force, requiring any manual filing systems in existence before 24 October 1998 to comply with the Act.