Probation officers face social media gag as outsourcing row rumbles on – The Guardian

Posted March 21st, 2013 in civil servants, freedom of expression, internet, news, probation by sally

“The justice secretary, Chris Grayling, has issued instructions that probation officers face the risk of disciplinary action if they publicly criticise on Twitter or other social media his plans to outsource 70% of their work with offenders.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bundesrepublik Deutschland v Dittrich – WLR Daily

Bundesrepublik Deutschland v Dittrich (Joined Cases C-124/11, C-125/11 and C-143/11); [2012] WLR (D) 370

“On the proper interpretation of article 3(1)(c) and 3(3) of Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation, assistance granted to public servants in the event of illness fell within the scope of the Directive if it was the responsibility of the state, as a public employer, to finance it, that being a matter for the national court to determine.”

WLR Daily, 6th December 2012

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

David Cameron criticised for attacks on Freedom of Information Act – The Guardian

“The information commissioner has accused David Cameron and other members of the political establishment of launching a damaging attack on the Freedom of Information Act which he says is encouraging civil servants to obscure the government from proper scrutiny.”

Full story

The Guardian, 16th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The Public Sector Equality Duty: The future is unwritten – Cloisters

Posted March 12th, 2012 in civil servants, equality, local government, news by sally

“With power and responsibility, thus spake Parliament, comes the obligation to take a proactive stance in the advancement of equality and elimination of discrimination. Accordingly a public authority can face legal challenges in the exercise of its functions not just for its acts but for its omissions. Enter the public sector equality duty.”

Full story (PDF)

Cloisters, March 2012

Source: www.cloisters.com

Whitehall’s worries about Freedom of Information case – BBC News

“Could publishing a Whitehall document outlining the possible risks of the NHS shake-up pose a risk to good governance? That’s been the argument made in an appeal against a Freedom of Information ruling in central London this week.”

Full story

BBC News, 8th March 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Freedom of Information Act has not improved government, says MoJ – The Guardian

Posted February 14th, 2012 in civil servants, freedom of information, inquiries, legislation, news, reports by sally

“The Freedom of Information Act has failed to increase understanding of government, may have reduced trust and has done little to improve decision-making in Westminster, according to the Ministry of Justice, presaging a parliamentary debate on whether to consider reforms to the seven-year-old legislation.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th February 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Pension legislation to go ahead – The Independent

Posted December 21st, 2011 in bills, civil servants, legislation, news, pensions, trade unions by tracey

“The Government is pressing ahead with legislation to enact its controversial public sector pension reform in the new year, even though an agreement has not been reached with unions to end the bitter dispute.”

Full story

The Independent, 20th December 2011

Source: www.indpendent.co.uk

Civil servants fear FoI ruling over private emails and text messages – The Guardian

“Ministers, civil servants and government advisers are bracing themselves for an information commission ruling this week declaring that emails sent within government from private accounts are subject to freedom of information legislation and therefore can be disclosed.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th December 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

FoI act has ‘hamstrung’ government – The Guardian

Posted November 24th, 2011 in civil servants, freedom of information, legislation, news, select committees by sally

“The Freedom of Information act is a mistake, and is having a negative effect on governing, Britain’s top civil servant said. Sir Gus O’Donnell told the Commons public administration select committee that it had stymied full and frank discussion of options by ministers and others in government. The 2001 act gives members of the public and journalists the right to ask for publication of official documents.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd November 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Unions lose redundancy pay case – The Independent

“The two largest Civil Service unions have lost their High Court challenge to a scheme which will reduce benefits paid to members on redundancy and early retirement.”

Full story

The Independent, 10th August 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Civil service unions lose High Court challenge over reduced benefits – The Guardian

Posted August 10th, 2011 in civil servants, judicial review, news, pensions, redundancy, trade unions by sally

“The two largest civil service unions have lost their High Court challenge to a scheme that will reduce benefits paid to members on redundancy and early retirement.”

Full story

The Guardian, 10th August 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New independent assessor of compensation appointed – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 30th, 2011 in civil servants, compensation, miscarriage of justice, news by sally

“Right Honourable Dame Janet Smith DBE has been appointed to succeed Lord Brennan of Bibury QC as the independent Assessor for miscarriages of justice compensation for England and Wales.The Assessor is appointed under schedule 12 of the Criminal Justice.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 29th June 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

News focus: our analysis of the legal aid and sentencing bill – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 30th, 2011 in bills, civil servants, legal aid, news by sally

“A close reading of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill has left many lawyers, campaign groups and politicians who support the legal aid system more worried than ever about future provision.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 30th June 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Top-paid civil servants lose right to wage privacy – The Guardian

Posted June 23rd, 2011 in civil servants, news, privacy, remuneration by sally

“Senior civil servants who tried to keep their salaries secret will be made to reveal them, the Information Commissioner has ruled. The government has been ordered to name every civil servant on a salary above £150,000 – more than the prime minister – after some resisted, citing the Data Protection Act. The ruling means that the identity of 24 Whitehall mandarins who refused to be named when the coalition published a list of high earners in government a year ago will now be revealed, and that pressure will mount for other high earners below the £150,000 mark to also be named.”

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd June 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lord Chief Justice wanted a pay rise for judges – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 22nd, 2011 in civil servants, judiciary, news, remuneration by sally

“The country’s most senior judge has demanded a pay rise for senior members of the judiciary, it has emerged.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 22nd March 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Civil servant sues for £300,000 after falling off chair – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 31st, 2010 in civil servants, negligence, news, personal injuries by sally

“A civil servant is suing his government department for £300,000 after he fell off a chair.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 31st August 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Unions threaten strike action over civil service redundancy deal – The Guardian

“Civil service unions are threatening strike action after the government announced a ‘non-negotiable’ new redundancy deal that will reduce pay-outs for compulsory redundancies from a maximum of more than six years to just one year.”

Full story

The Guardian, 6th July 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government accused of declaring war on unions over strike law and redundancy plans – The Guardian

“The government was today (5 July) accused of declaring war on trade unions as ministers moved to cut the redundancy terms of public sector workers and reports emerged of plans to tighten up the law on strike ballots.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th July 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Civil service redundancy decision is not quite the victory we thought – The Guardian

Posted June 1st, 2010 in civil servants, compensation, news, redundancy, trade unions by sally

“Earlier this month, the Public and Commercial Services Union challenged the government’s attempts to reduce the level of redundancy pay for civil servants, and won. The case has been hailed as a ‘major victory’, but it may not be the triumph it first appears.”

Full story

The Guardian, 28th May 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Regina (Public and Commercial Services Union) v Minister for the Civil Service – WLR Daily

Posted May 11th, 2010 in civil servants, law reports, pensions by sally

Regina (Public and Commercial Services Union) v Minister for the Civil Service [2010] EWHC 1027 (Admin); [2010] WLR (D) 117

“S 2(3) of the Superannuation Act 1972 as amended conferred protection in relation to all entitlements in the principal civil service pension scheme (‘PCSPS’) and the civil service compensation scheme (‘CSCS’) referable to length of service and contributions paid, whether they constituted legal entitlements in the full sense or entitlements as a matter of established and declared administrative practice as set out in any relevant scheme under s 1 of the 1972 Act.”

WLR Daily, 10th May 2010

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.