Police and service dogs and horses receive protection by law – The Guardian

Posted June 15th, 2018 in bills, dogs, horses, news, police, prisons by tracey

‘A bill making it a specific offence to attack police or prison officer dogs or police horses is set to become law after the government decided to back the measure, closing what campaigners said was a loophole in existing legislation.’

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The Guardian, 15th June 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government acts to make ‘upskirting’ a specific offence – Ministry of Justice

‘‘Upskirting’ is set to become a specific criminal offence, with perpetrators facing up to two years behind bars, under a new law backed by Government.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 15th June 2018

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Jack Simson Caird: Parliament’s Right to a ‘Meaningful Vote’: Amendments to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted June 12th, 2018 in amendments, bills, constitutional reform, EC law, news, parliament, treaties by sally

‘On Tuesday 12 June 2018, the Government will ask the House of Commons to reject the Lords’ meaningful vote amendment to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill (Lords Amendment 19). If the amendment is rejected, the Government will ask the Commons to accept its own alternative version, known as an ‘amendment in lieu’. If either amendment is enacted, and the Commons uses its veto to reject the Withdrawal Agreement, this would be a constitutionally unprecedented situation. This post looks at the Government’s ‘amendment in lieu’, and the features that distinguish it from the Lords’ amendment.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 11th June 2018

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Let battle commence: Labour, Lib Dems and top judges bid to reduce impact of whiplash reforms – Legal Futures

Posted June 12th, 2018 in bills, news, parliament, personal injuries by sally

‘Opposition peers and leading legal figures will today try and curb the government’s whiplash reforms as the Civil Liability Bill enters its crucial report stage.’

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Legal Futures, 12th June 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

A guide to the Civil Liability Bill – Legal Futures

Posted June 7th, 2018 in bills, damages, news, personal injuries, road traffic by sally

‘Compensation claims, particularly for minor injuries as a result of road traffic accidents, are the centre of ongoing tension between the insurance industry and those who represent claimants. ‘

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Legal Futures, 6th June 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Anti-terrorism plans ‘will make thoughtcrime a reality’ – The Guardian

Posted June 7th, 2018 in bills, news, proscribed organisations, terrorism by sally

‘Anti-terrorism proposals have been unveiled by the UK government that would make it an offence for people to publicly support a banned group even if they did not encourage others to do so.’

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The Guardian, 6th June 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Drone rules made law to reduce threat to aircraft – The Guardian

Posted May 31st, 2018 in aircraft, airports, bills, news, penalties, regulations by sally

‘The government has announced measures to tackle the dangers drones can pose to people, aircraft and airports.’

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The Guardian, 30th May 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Forthcoming law (and informed consent) – Nearly Legal

Posted May 29th, 2018 in bills, estate agents, fees, housing, landlord & tenant, news by sally

‘The Tenant Fees Bill has had its second reading. The current Bill and its progress are here. There is a lot to digest in the Bill and I suspect there will be amendments on route. There are a whole new range of civil penalties, possible offences and restrictions on service of a section 21 forthcoming.’

Full Story

Nearly Legal, 28th May 2018

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Ministry of Justice unveils legislation that will allow judges to delegate “routine” work to court staff – Litigation Futures

Posted May 25th, 2018 in bills, civil procedure rules, courts, judiciary, lists, news by sally

‘Legislation to allow judges to delegate tasks to court staff was announced by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) yesterday as it emerged that the Civil Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC) has already begun looking at the issue.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures,24th May 2018

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

New internet laws pledged as social media firms snub talks – BBC News

Posted May 21st, 2018 in bills, data protection, internet, ministers' powers and duties, news by sally

‘The culture secretary has agreed he does not have enough power to police social media firms after admitting only four of 14 invited to talks showed up.’

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BBC News, 20th May 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Government shelves Goods Mortgages Bill – Law Commission

Posted May 17th, 2018 in bills, Law Commission, loans, mortgages, press releases by tracey

‘The Government has announced that it will not bring forward the Law Commission’s Goods Mortgages Bill. The Bill had been announced in last year’s Queen’s Speech and would have replaced the Victorian‑era Bills of Sale Acts – bringing greater protections to those who had taken out or who had unwittingly purchased cars with so-called “logbook loans”. But following additional consultation, the Government has said it will not bring forward reform in the area in the immediate future.’

Full press release

Law Commission, 14th May 2018

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Retention proposals take shape: analysing the text of the Aldous Bill – Practical Law: Construction Blog

Posted May 16th, 2018 in bills, construction industry, contracts, deposits, news by tracey

‘For many years, parts of the construction sector have pushed for improvement of the market’s treatment of retention monies. Post-Carillion and its devastating impact on suppliers, however, matters may have reached a tipping point. On 9 January 2018 – a few days before the construction giant’s collapse – the backbencher Peter Aldous introduced the Construction (Retention Deposit Schemes) Bill under Parliament’s Ten Minute Rule. Given the importance of government support in mustering a majority in the House of Commons, relatively few Private Members’ Bills (PMB) become law. To this end, proponents of the “Aldous Bill”, not least the Waveney MP himself, have been busily promoting its merits within the industry and rallying support among politicians ahead of it being debated by MPs at the second reading.’

Full Story

Practical Law: Construction Blog, 15th May 2018

Source: constructionblog.practicallaw.com

Government gives no quarter in defence of whiplash reforms despite pressure from peers – Legal Futures

Posted May 14th, 2018 in accidents, bills, news, personal injuries, road traffic by sally

‘The government stood firm on its proposed whiplash reforms yesterday despite criticism from peers, on the first day of the Civil Liability Bill’s committee stage in the House of Lords.’

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Legal Futures, 11th May 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Civil Liability Bill: Whiplash damages and definition revealed – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 9th, 2018 in bills, damages, news, personal injuries, road traffic, select committees by tracey

‘Legislators have outlined the tariffs that are likely to apply to whiplash injuries if a bill for fixed figures is passed. In a draft order of the Civil Liability Bill laid before parliament today, the total damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity payable for injuries lasting less than three months is restricted to £225. That figure rises to £450 for injuries up to six months, and to £765 where the injuries last nine months.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 8th May 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Information Commissioner consults on draft Regulatory Action Policy – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 8th, 2018 in bills, consultations, data protection, news by sally

‘The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has launched a consultation on the way it plans to regulate new data protection laws.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 4th May 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Ministers back down on tax haven company registers – BBC News

Posted May 2nd, 2018 in bills, news, tax avoidance by tracey

‘The government has agreed to calls for new measures aimed at increasing transparency in offshore tax havens.’

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BBC News, 1st May 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Legal challenge to devolved Brexit bills – BBC News

Posted April 17th, 2018 in bills, constitutional reform, devolution issues, news, Supreme Court, treaties by tracey

‘The UK government has launched a legal challenge to the Scottish and Welsh governments’ Brexit bills. The two devolved parliaments passed legislation last month that is intended to act as an alternative to Westminster’s EU Withdrawal Bill. But the UK government has asked the Supreme Court to rule whether the legislation is constitutional and within devolved powers.’

Full Story

BBC News, 17th April 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Home Office announces plans for Offensive Weapons Bill to tackle serious violence – Home Office

Posted April 9th, 2018 in bills, offensive weapons, press releases by tracey

‘A ban on the sale of the most dangerous corrosive products to under-18s and tough restrictions on online sales of knives were announced today (Sunday 8 April) by the Home Office.’

Full press release

Home Office, 8th April 2018

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

UK government confirms changes to discount rate calculation method – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 29th, 2018 in bills, consultations, insurance, news, personal injuries by tracey

‘The way in which the discount rate applied to lump sum personal injury payments is calculated will be changed in order to “better reflect evidence of actual investment habits”, the UK government has confirmed.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 28th March 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

UK parties poised to gain data powers to work out how people are likely to vote, despite the Cambridge Analytica scandal – The Indepndent

Posted March 23rd, 2018 in bills, consent, data protection, news, political parties, privacy by tracey

‘Britain’s political parties are poised to grant themselves special powers to use personal data to find out how people are likely to vote, despite the Cambridge Analytica scandal, The Independent can reveal.’

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The Indepndent, 23rd March 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk