Statwatch

Capital Allowances (Environmentally Beneficial Plant and Machinery) (Amendment) Order 2008 (SI 2008/1917) Commences 11 August 2008. Amends SI 2003/2076 so as to provide new definitions of “the water technology criteria list” and “the water technology product List”. The order also amends some of the descriptions of the environmentally beneficial plant and machinery technology classes to reflect the names of the qualifying technology classes in the water technology criteria list and the water technology product List. Within the technology class of water reuse systems there are two sub-technologies, namely the efficient membrane filtration systems for recovery and reuse and the wastewater recovery and reuse systems. As the design of these systems will be tailored to the needs of the particular business, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will issue certificates of environmental benefit. This order accordingly provides that a first-year allowance is also not available in the case of expenditure on wastewater recovery and reuse systems.

Companies Act 2006 (Commencement No 7 Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2008 (SI 2008/1886) Commences partly on 11 August 2008; fully on 1 October 2008. Amends SI 2007/34 to update the provisions therein. Makes provision for private companies, liability of members following reduction of capital, and application to capital redemption reserve as if it were paid up share capital.

Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) (Amendment No 2) Order 2008 (SI 2008/2039) Commenced 1 August 2008. Broadens the defence which allows for the continued trade in genuine curved swords, so that it applies to swords made anywhere in the world. It also introduces a defence for curved swords for use in religious ceremonies. On 6 April 2008, the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) (Amendment) Order 2008 came into force banning the sale and import of certain curved swords.