Standstill

An engineering policy added to erection all risks or contractors all risks cover when a construction project enters a period of inactivity, i.e. goes on ‘standstill’. The policy is on a named peril basis.

State of the art/development risks defence

Defence whereby a ‘producer’ can avoid Consumer Protection Act 1987 liability. If, at the time of supply, the state of scientific and technical knowledge was not such that a producer of similar products might have been expected to discover the defect if it had existed while there were products under his control, there will be no liability under the Act. It is no defence to show that the producer was unaware of the risk because of no prior accidents. The defence only applies when there has been some technical or scientific advance since the time of supply that subsequently enable the defect to be identified (Abouzaid v. Mothercare (UK) Ltd (2001)). The producer must show that the defence applies.

State Second Pension (S2P)

Replaced SERPS in 2002 providing a more generous additional state pension for low and moderate earners and certain carers and people with long-term disability. S2P gives employees earning up to £24,600 (2002/3 terms) an improvement over SERPS whether or not contracted out. Most help goes to persons in the lowest of three earning bands, i.e. up to £10,800.

Statement of Principles for approved persons (SP)

The FSA sets out four Statements of Principles that apply to all approved persons to ensure that they undertake their roles efficiently and with integrity in carrying out controlled functions. Three additional principles apply to approved persons performing significant influence functions. Approved persons in breach of the principles face disciplinary action. SP is different from Principles of Business that apply to firms only.