Current Awareness » parliament

At-a-glance: Queen’ Speech 2013 bill-by-bill – BBC News

tracey — Thu, 09 May 2013 09:20:36 +0000

“The Queen’s Speech sets out the government’s legislative programme for the next
year. Here is a guide to all the bills in it.”

Full story

BBC News, 8th May 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Queen’s speeches since 1994: how many bills did they introduce? – The Guardian

sally — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:21:51 +0000

“Ahead of the 2013 state opening of parliament, we look at how long the Queen’s speech has been over the last two decades, and how many bills it introduced.”

Full story

The Guardian, 7th May 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Carers to receive legal rights under new laws – Daily Telegraph

sally — Tue, 07 May 2013 10:32:08 +0000

“Hundreds of thousands of people who care for elderly or disabled relations will be given new rights to state support for the first time, Norman Lamb, the Care and Support Minister, says.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th May 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Queen’s speech: consumer bill of rights to cover faulty apps or downloads – The Guardian

sally — Tue, 07 May 2013 08:39:06 +0000

“Consumer rights covering products such as cars and white goods are to be extended to apps and music downloads in a consumer bill of rights to be unveiled in the Queen’s speech on Wednesday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 6th May 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Should parliament give itself more powers? – The Guardian

tracey — Fri, 03 May 2013 12:20:54 +0000

“Should parliament give itself more powers? That’s the intriguing question posed by a paper to be published next week by the Constitution Society, an educational charity established five years ago.”

Full story

The Guardian, 2nd May 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MPs’ expenses: copies of receipts are subject to FOIA – Panopticon

sally — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:14:21 +0000

“Following the MPs’ expenses scandal, the then newly-founded Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) decided that it would not routinely publish images of the receipts submitted to IPSA by MPs in support of their expenses claims. Rather, only text transcribed from the submitted receipts was to be published.”

Full story

Panopticon, 29th April 2013

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

Justice and Security Act 2013 – legislation.gov.uk

tracey — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:48:42 +0000

Full text of Act

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Health and safety automatic civil liability to end as House of Lords accepts Government’s plans – OUT-LAW.com

tracey — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:43:04 +0000

“The House of Lords has approved Government plans to prevent companies from being
automatically liable for some workplace injuries after a second vote on the
issue.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 24th April 2013

Soure: www.out-law.com

Bar Council welcomes House of Lords report on EU Opt-out – The Bar Council

sally — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:21:37 +0000

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has welcomed the finding of the House of Lords EU Committee that the Government has not made a convincing case to opt-out of about 130 EU police and criminal justice measures and that to do so would have significant negative repercussions for the UK’s internal security.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 23rd April 2013

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Fast-track legislation preventing proper scrutiny, says rights committee – The Guardian

sally — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:59:48 +0000

“The increasing use emergency legislation, lack of adequate debating time and insertion of last-minute amendments are preventing effective parliamentary scrutiny of new laws, a committee has said.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th April 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Complexity of parliamentary legislation ‘undermining the rule of law’ – The Guardian

sally — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:34:24 +0000

“Parliamentary legislation is excessively complex and its confusions undermine the rule of law, according to the official in charge of drafting government statutes.”

Full story

The Guardian, 16th April 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Blow to freedom of speech as key libel reform the Defamation Bill is blocked – The Independent

sally — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:40:46 +0000

“The Government is to block plans to reform Britain’s ‘chilling’ libel laws and to prevent large companies from silencing their critics with the threat of being sued.”

Full story

The Independent, 15th April 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Justice and Security Bill: The “Secret Courts” Endgame? – UK Human Rights Blog

sally — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 09:58:31 +0000

“Today we will see the beginning of the end of the passage of the Justice and Security Bill through Parliament: the process commonly known as parliamentary ‘ping-pong’.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 26th March 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Lords to vote on restoring safeguards to plan for secret courts – The Guardian

sally — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 09:08:51 +0000

“Peers vote on Tuesday on whether to restore extra safeguards to the justice and security bill – amendments that the government has warned will make the expansion of secret courts unworkable.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lords plan parliamentary ‘ping pong’ to win battle over secret courts – The Guardian

sally — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 19:09:25 +0000

“Peers intend to change justice and security bill as it shuttles between houses of parliament, government is warned.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Politicians agree deal on post-Leveson Royal Charter for press regulation – but Daily Mail Group, News International and Telegraph Media Group refuse to sign up – The Independent

tracey — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 09:48:48 +0000

“Britain’s largest newspaper groups are on a collision course with the Government over press regulation, after last night signalling their anger at the imposition of ‘several deeply contentious’ issues in a Royal Charter announced in Parliament by the Prime Minister.”

Full story

The Independent, 19th March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Jacob Rowbottom: Entrenching a Royal Charter – some initial thoughts – UK Constitutional Law Group

sally — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:35:19 +0000

“After much political manoeuvring over the weekend, a deal has been struck on the Royal Charter to implement Leveson. A key point is that it will prevent the Charter being unilaterally changed by future governments.”

Full story

UK Constitutional Law Group, 18th March 2013

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

Cameron pulls the plug on press talks – and sets stage for fight – The Guardian

tracey — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 10:06:40 +0000

“PM’s ejector-seat diplomacy over Leveson leaves him facing a complex parliamentary battle.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Caste discrimination should be outlawed, say Lords – The Guardian

sally — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 09:32:01 +0000

“The House of Lords voted on Monday to outlaw discrimination against people on the basis of their caste.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Secret courts: Former top judge Lord Woolf backs government changes – BBC News

sally — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 09:22:45 +0000

“The former head of the judiciary, Lord Woolf, has thrown his support behind plans to allow more civil courts to examine secret intelligence in private.”

Full story

BBC News, 4th March 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Peers compromise over press regulation – The Guardian

sally — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 09:53:17 +0000

“Peers have staged a partial climbdown in their clash with the government over the introduction of Leveson-style controls on the press.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Upper Tribunal issues further decision in Prince Charles’ letters saga – Panopticon

sally — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 12:10:11 +0000

“In the latest round of the legal and political boxing match that the Evans case has become, the Upper Tribunal (‘UT’), chaired by Walker J, has decided that the government should release its ‘schedules and lists’ of ‘advocacy correspondence’ between Prince Charles and various government departments.”

Full story

Panopticon, 21st February 2013

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

A human rights reality check for the Home Secretary – UK Human Rights Blog

sally — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 09:49:52 +0000

“The Home Secretary, Theresa May, is no stranger to ill-founded outbursts concerning the evils of human rights. Against that background, her recent article in the Mail on Sunday (to which Adam Wager has already drawn attention) does not disappoint. May’s ire is drawn by certain recent judicial decisions in which the deportation of foreign criminals has been ruled unlawful on the ground that it would breach their right to respect for private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Some of these judgments, May contends, flout instructions issued to judges by Parliament about how such cases should be decided.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 18th February 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Gerry McCann calls for press control laws – and 75% of the public agree – The Guardian

sally — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 09:24:43 +0000

“Poll shows overwhelming support for missing Madeleine’s father on how Leveson inquiry findings must be enforced.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Leveson report: Lords unveil proposals in frustration at lack of progress – The Guardian

tracey — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 09:33:12 +0000

“Frustration in the Lords at the lack of progress over the Leveson report has led four peers to table measures to introduce a low-cost arbitration service for defamation, as recommended by Lord Justice Leveson in the defamation bill.”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lobbyists’ code of conduct bill to be debated for first time in parliament – The Guardian

tracey — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 09:55:39 +0000

“Lobbyists working in Westminster or local government would have to sign a public register and agree to a code of conduct under a bill being debated for the first time in parliament on Friday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 1st February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Banning drugs drives a ‘rising tide’ of legal highs, peers warn – Daily Telegraph

tracey — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 09:22:01 +0000

“The current classification system simply cannot keep up as a new legal high emerges every six days in the UK and young people share links to where they can be bought online and via their mobile phones, Baroness Meacher, chairwoman of the parliamentary inquiry into legal highs, said.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 14th January 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Lord Phillips to challenge government on Supreme Court admin appointments – The Lawyer

sally — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 16:36:28 +0000

“The former president of the Supreme Court, Lord Phillips, will challenge the right of the government to appoint the court’s chief executive in a proposed amendment to the Crime and Courts Bill this week.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 17th December 2012

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Baroness D’Souza – The Role of the House of Lords in the Parliamentary Process – UCL Constitution Unit

sally — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 11:50:52 +0000

“Looking above and beyond current debates about the House of Lords’ composition, Baroness D’Souza will discuss the Lords in terms of its place in the parliamentary process. Having now been in post for over a year, Baroness D’Souza will present her vision for the Lords’ future, its contribution to the political system, changes to its working practices and the role of the Lord Speaker. She will also cover public perceptions of the Upper House and the importance of outreach.”

Video

UCL Constitution Unit, 14th December 2012

Source: ww.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit

Judges take on ministers over supreme court – The Guardian

sally — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 09:50:31 +0000

“The government is facing a clash with some of the country’s most senior judges who will this week attempt to force ministers to relinquish control of the running of the supreme court.”

Full story

The Guardian, 16th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Former Labour MP Margaret Moran escapes jail and criminal conviction despite fiddling £53,000 of expenses from taxpayer – The Independent

tracey — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 13:13:28 +0000

“The former Labour MP, Margaret Moran, has been given a two-year supervision and treatment order for fiddling her expenses in order to gain £53,000 she was not entitled to.”

Full story

The Independent, 14th December 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Peers vote to remove law banning insulting language – The Guardian

sally — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:13:21 +0000

“The House of Lords on Wednesday night voted to remove a law that criminalises the use of insulting language in Britain.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Snooper’s charter’ faces rough ride through parliament – The Guardian

sally — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 09:49:20 +0000

“Civil liberties are said to have been the political glue that brought the two coalition parties together before the general election, and nothing joined them more strongly than their joint opposition to Labour’s ‘Big Brother’ database.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Hillsborough probe bill supported in House of Commons – BBC News

sally — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 09:34:21 +0000

“New powers to help the investigation of police officers involved in the Hillsborough disaster have been approved by MPs in the Commons.”

Full story

BBC News, 5th December 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

David Cameron statement in response to the Leveson Inquiry report – The Guardian

tracey — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 10:19:14 +0000

“Prime Minister delivered the statement to the House of Commons on the day that Leveson report was published.”

Full statement

The Guardian, 29th November 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Leveson report calls for new press law – The Guardian

sally — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 13:49:42 +0000

“Lord Justice Leveson has recommended the introduction of the first press law in Britain since the 17th century – proposing that a statutory body such as Ofcom should take responsibility for monitoring an overhauled Press Complaints Commission.”

Full story

The Guardian, 29th November 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Leveson: some of the key questions awaiting answers – The Guardian

sally — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 09:30:30 +0000

“Lord Justice Leveson’s report is expected to cover much ground, and to set the stage for the next debate: what about the internet?”

Full story

The Guardian, 28th November 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Secret courts suffer humiliating defeat in House of Lords – Daily Telegraph

tracey — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 09:26:06 +0000

“Peers delivered a series of humiliating defeats on Wednesday night to government plans to introduce secret courts.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st November 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Prisoner vote bill to be outlined – BBC News

sally — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 10:41:01 +0000

“The government’s draft bill on prisoner voting is to be outlined by the justice secretary on Thursday, the BBC understands.”

Full story

BBC News, 18th November 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

“No-one should be under any doubt – prisoners are not getting the vote under this government” – UK Human Rights Blog

sally — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 10:30:52 +0000

“It is being reported that Parliament will, after all, get the opportunity to decide whether the blanket ban on convicted prisoners being able to vote will be lifted. MPs could get three options to choose from, including removing the ban for prisoners serving six months or less and those serving four years or less. A third option will be to maintain the status quo, with no convicted prisoners being able to vote.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 18th November 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Crucial battle against UK ‘secret courts’ begins in earnest – The Guardian

sally — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 09:51:42 +0000

“The House of Lords on Monday is due to vote on one of the most contentious but important pieces of legislation to come before this parliament.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th November 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Margaret Moran received £53,000 in bogus MP expenses, jury finds -The Guardian

sally — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 10:39:22 +0000

“Margaret Moran, former Labour MP for Luton South, received more than £53,000 in fraudulent expenses, a jury has found, despite her being mentally unfit to stand trial.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th November 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Peers scrap hundreds of ancient laws in minutes – The Independent

sally — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 11:29:54 +0000

“Peers took just minutes tonight to back the repeal of hundreds of outdated laws, stretching back over nearly 700 years.”

Full story

The Independent, 5th November 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Prisoners’ votes: what’s the government up to? And are they missing a trick? – Head of Legal

sally — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 10:40:11 +0000

“It’s well known that the government faces a problem when it comes to prisoners’ votes.”

Full story

Head of Legal, 30th October 2012

Source: www.headoflegal.com

Prisoner votes: Strasbourg should give way to national independence – The Guardian

sally — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 09:51:25 +0000

“The constitutional crisis predicted for years by Professor Vernon Bogdanor is upon us. He warned that the human rights reforms of the 1990s created a potential conflict between the sovereignty of parliament and the rule of law. ‘What happens if there is a clash between the two principles?’ he asked in his Magna Carta lecture of 2006. A very senior judge to whom he had posed the conundrum had replied ‘That is a question that ought not to be asked.’”

Full story

The Guardian, 29th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Parliament and the judiciary – Speech by the Attorney General Dominic Grieve QC MP

sally — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 11:22:57 +0000

Parliament and the judiciary

Speech by the Attorney General Dominic Grieve QC MP

BPP Law School, 25th October 2012

Source: www.attorneygeneral.gov.uk

MPs reject government plans for pilot badger cull – BBC News

tracey — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 09:09:28 +0000

“MPs have voted against the government’s policy of culling badgers in two pilot schemes in England.”

Full story

BBC News, 25th October 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Boundary changes: Revised proposals for English constituencies – BBC News

tracey — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 09:16:24 +0000

“Revised proposals have been published for the shape of future parliamentary boundaries in England.”

Full story

BBC News, 16th October 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Changing scope of anti-piracy code would need Parliamentary and EU approval, says Ofcom – OUT-LAW.com

sally — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 09:12:53 +0000

“Ofcom would have to consult on and gain Parliamentary and EU approval for any changes it wishes to make to the scope of its proposed new anti-piracy code once the initial code is finalised, it has said.”

Full story

OUT-Law.com, 4th October 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Copyright reforms needed now, but future ‘tweaking’ without consultation must be avoided, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

sally — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 10:06:21 +0000

“The Government must reform UK copyright law in order to restore the public and business’s ‘respect’ in the ‘integrity’ of the framework, an expert has said.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 19th September 2012

Source: www.out-law.com