From April, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will be able to demand a security from companies when the taxman considers there is a “serious risk” that the business will try to dodge PAYE or National Insurance Contributions (NICs). As they say: Tax officials added that the “amount of tax at risk, the employer’s previous behaviour

Most toxic is the role of commercial competition, with Monitor acting as enforcer. By opening every NHS corner to “any qualified provider”, the whole service can be taken over by private companies, with a few token charities and mutuals. NHS hospitals, cherry-picked of lucrative work, risk bankruptcy when left with only complex cases. Stroke care

Though as a whole companies remain in relatively good shape, smaller groups look vulnerable to looming debt repayments

Lenders appear to be becoming less amenable to extending company loans when they hit a sticky patch, which could see a surge in corporate failures

Biotech companies should agree not to market genetically modified (GM) crops in member states wishing to ban their cultivation before seeking EU approval for their products, a draft Danish proposal shows. More »

Extra money raised from settling disputes with big companies is unlikely to pacify Revenue critics

The Treasury wants an inquiry into how widespread is the practice of paying salaries in the public sector to private companies

David Cameron tells MPs he will do everything he can to persuade India to place a major air force order with British companies rather than French.

Only exceptions will be buying British is essential to maintaining national security, says minister

Caroline Flint MP, Labour's Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, has commented on proposals from OFGEM to improve the way energy companies publish their financial information and called for more transparency in the energy market.