The story is that Pet Idol is in town, and Hamish, a floppy-eared spaniel, is the favourite to win. But as the spotlight falls on the lane, Top Dog and his gang of strays are hunted by the Dog Catcher, and blame Hamish for their troubles.

With his haphazard magic, an appetite for toast and a strange travelling machine, can Badger the Mystical Mutt save Hamish from Top Dog and his gang? And can Hamish still win Pet Idol?

Badger is currently undertaking a book tour and is appearing in bookshops up and down the country to rave reviews not just from his fast growing army of young fans but also from the media. See his website here:

http://badgerthemysticalmutt.com/

and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

Originally from Ayrshire, Lyn McNicol is a publicist and spent five years with the BBC working on children’s programmes that included Balamory and Live & Kicking. She also helped to launch Cbeebies and CBBC in Scotland. In the nineties she won Cosmopolitan Magazine’s Women of Achievement Award for Media. She lives in Glasgow.

Laura Cameron Jackson is an artist from Liverpool who now lives in Glasgow. She was artist-in-residence at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow in 1996 and has undertaken numerous commissions including work with BBC Scotland. Most recently as a session artist, she has worked with severely disabled children and adults creatively, with organisations that include Sense Scotland, with visually impaired adults as art tutor with Visibility as well as work with Artlink Central.

We at PRG are delighted to be legal advisers to Lyn and Laura and wish both of them, and Badger, continuing success in the future.

PRG’s media law partner is John Mackie who can be contacted at jgamackie@prg.co.uk

Please buy the album for yourself and your friends and contribute to Cash for Kids. Check out the City of Soul guys here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-g1MLC4S14&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL3268C1B865E4AC01

The PRG Partnership has acted for “Advanced” from the early days and has delighted in its success from then to now.

See the Advanced Group website at www.theadvancedgroup.co.uk

A call for action against employers ignoring the minimum wage laws has been made by Citizens Advice Scotland, in the wake of evidence that many workers are being exploited by being illegally underpaid.

A survey of CAB advisers carried out during the summer found that over half (53.3%) said that breaches of the minimum wage law were a “very” or “fairly” significant problem in their area; and nine out of 10 said the problem was “the same or worse” than it was two years ago.
Women are more than twice as likely to be affected than men, and over half of respondents said the problem affected migrant workers.

In terms of age, young people are by far the most likely victims: 73.3% of CAB staff reported that the problem was worst for those under the age of 24, and over a third said they had seen it afflict those aged just 16 or 17.
Hotels, restaurants and cafes are among the most common offenders, with hairdressers and the construction industry also mentioned by many advisers.

CAS Head of Policy Susan McPhee said the problem was a serious one. “The minimum wage has now been law for over 10 years, but a significant number of employers are refusing to pay it, and as a result workers across Scotland are being exploited on illegal wages.

She added: “All political parties now accept the principle of a minimum wage, but it seems that some employers believe the law is optional.

“Our experience also shows that many workers are unaware of their rights, or lack confidence in how to fight for them. Local CAB advisers will help anyone who is being exploited at work, and we would like to see more done to raise public awareness of workers’ rights and employers’ responsibilities. But the main solution to this problem is quite simple. Employers need to be compelled to obey the law.
“We have in the past called for a Fair Employment Commission, and we repeat that call today. Such a body, equipped with real powers, would address a number of unfair employment practices. But right at the top of its agenda would be making sure that nobody is excluded from the right to a fair and legal wage.”

Employers and employees can contact Jennifer Quinn for advice on all employment law issues. 0141 353 0550 or jenniferquinn@prg.co.uk

Your feedback is what will help us to create a useful website and communications network between PRG and our clients.

A huge shake-up of employment laws and tribunals, which will make it harder for employees to claim unfair dismissal and save employers millions of pounds, has been bitterly attacked by union leaders.

According to the Government, the “most radical reform package for decades” – to be unveiled by the Liberal Democrat Business Secretary Vince Cable – will make it easier for firms to recruit, manage and let staff go.

Coinciding with the employment law shake-up, the Prime Minister has launched an attack on public sector union leaders over the November 30 strike and urged them to think again in a newspaper article.

“I have huge respect for the hard-working men and women who keep our vital services running,” Mr Cameron writes. 

“The teachers who educate the next generation, the childminders who keep our children safe and workers who keep our streets clean.

“We depend on them every day.  And they do a brilliant job.

“That’s why I’m so angry to hear that union bosses are ordering millions of public sector workers to strike next week – even while talks are under way. Most of them did not vote for this. Only a quarter of union members backed industrial action.”

Mr Cable’s employment tribunal shake-up includes:

:: Increasing the qualification period for making a claim for unfair dismissal or sex discrimination from one to two years of employment.

:: Cutting the current 90-day consultation period on redundancies to as low as 30 days.

:: Requiring all claims to go to the conciliation service Acas before reaching an employment tribunal.

Other proposals include a “rapid resolution scheme” to offer cheaper, quicker decisions on more straightforward claims and a regional pilot scheme for smaller firms to use mediation.

The Government believes the reforms would deliver over £10m of savings for taxpayers and benefit employers to the tune of £40m.

A Business Department spokesman said: “The UK has one of the most flexible labour markets in the world but we want to make sure that the rules are fit for modern workplaces. We need to make the system simpler for employers and employees.

“This package will make it easier for businesses when taking on, managing and letting go their staff, while also being fair to workers.”

But the move has been denounced by union leaders. 

Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB union, said: “These changes will make it harder for hundreds of thousands of workers to bring cases of victimisation, unfairness and bullying at work. This will just sweep abuse under the carpet.”

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: “Reducing protection for people at work will not save or create a single job. It’s not employment law that is holding firms back, it’s the tough economic climate and the problems many companies are having getting the banks to lend to them that’s to blame.”

In his article, Mr Cameron says the Government’s offer on public sector pensions is generous and ministers have been prepared to listen.

“People working for ordinary businesses all over the country are facing tough times,” he writes. “Yet unions want the rest of us to pay even more in taxes – rather than share the burden.

“My message to the union leaders today is: think again. I urge public sector workers to put the people of Britain first and work normally next Wednesday.

“The victims of strike action will be the people who pay your wages – the ordinary people of Britain.

“And at a time when we are trying to get the economy back on its feet, a strike is the last thing anyone needs.

“So today I’m calling upon Ed Miliband to condemn this strike and help stop it. I want to hear him tell the union bosses that pay Labour’s bills that these strikes are wrong.”

It remains to be seen whether the proposed reforms become law next year. Should you need employment law advice, whether as an employer or employee, please contact our partner Jennifer Quinn on 0141 353 0550 or at jenniferquinn@prg.co.uk

This Saturday, 1 October, sees the operation of new rules, under the Alcohol etc (Scotland) Act 2010, which will ban “irresponsible promotions” in supermarkets, and on the advertising of alcohol promotions.

Among other things, they will prohibit discounts on multiple purchases, require promotional and advertising material of alcoholic products to be contained within a designated display area in stores, and ban advertising within 200 metres of the store premises.

The rules are part of the Scottish Government’s drive to cut excessive drinking, but Stephen McGowan, of the Law Society of Scotland’s Licensing Law Committee, warned today that there may be unintended consequences.

He commented: “A ban on alcoholic drinks promotions will apply equally across all licensed premises. The change will mean an end to various supermarket deals, such as buy three bottles of wine for £10, as of this Saturday. But the multipack rule only applies if you are also selling the same product as single items, so premises may simply decide to stop offering singles and stock multipacks only – meaning customers may in fact be forced to buy more than they desire.”

Mr McGowan added: “The ban on alcohol advertising within 200 metres may have all sorts of bizarre consequences. For example this could affect shop names, if they contain reference to alcohol in their titles, and on a literal interpretation it could even affect delivery vans dropping off stock to the premises.”

Concerns on competition law issues were raised by the Society as the legislation was before the Scottish Parliament last year. Mr McGowan said that as it would apply to operators in Scotland only, the Society was concerned that it had the potential to create two separate markets within the United Kingdom for alcohol products.

“It could lead to shoppers purchasing in England & Wales to take advantage of savings not available in Scotland. This is a real possibility in view of the existence of internet retailing and ease of transportation between Scotland and England.”

The Scottish Government has issued guidance on the new rules which appears to suggest that further secondary legislation may be introduced to address these difficulties.

Check back for news items about PRG and for articles which we think will be of interest to you. Please contact any of our partners personally or at scotslaw@prg.co.uk at any time for advice and assistance concerning your personal or business legal requirements.