Changes to the standard rates of maternity pay

From 2nd April 2006 the standard rates of Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) and Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) have been increased to £108.85 per week (or 90% of the person’s average weekly earnings if that is less than £108.85). Paid maternity leave will also increase from 6-9 months when the due date for the baby’s birth is after 6th April 2007. There will also be new legislation to enable mothers to take up to a year’s maternity without losing their rights.

Further information can be found at: http://www.dti.gov.uk/workingparents or alternatively email cheryl@stephen-hill.co.uk

Firms are slow to fix security flaws

Many UK firms could be giving an advantage to computer hackers because they are taking too long to fix vulnerabilities with their software according to research.

Security firm McAfee carried out a study on companies and discovered that 19% of companies took more than a week to apply software patches to close vulnerabilities, leaving their computer systems open to loopholes that hackers regularly exploit.

Further research identified that 45% of those asked admitted that they were never completely protected against computer threats.

To avoid leaving your computer system open to malicious hackers, talk to your computer adviser about a good security package. If you would like us to recommend someone, please email Cheryl@stephen-hill.co.uk

'It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers.'

James Thurber