Plans to change animal welfare codes abandoned by government – BBC News
‘The government has abandoned a controversial plan to repeal animal welfare codes.’
BBC News, 7th April 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: consultations
Guidance on coasting schools – Education Law Blog
‘In all of the excitement about the proposals in the White Paper for all schools to become academies, there has been little discussion about the Guidance for local authorities and RSCs on Schools causing concern – Intervening in failing, underperforming and coasting schools. Alongside this guidance, the Government has published its response to the consultation exercise, which includes a useful summary of the amendments that the Government made to the Bill during its Parliamentary passage.’
Education Law Blog, 7th April 2016
Source: www.education11kbw.com
Junior doctors’ row: Government hit with second legal challenge over contracts – BBC News
‘A second legal challenge has been made over the government’s decision to impose a new contract on junior doctors in England.’
BBC News, 4th April 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Land Registry owner must commit to delivering central Local Land Charges register – Local Government Lawyer
‘A new owner of the Land Registry would be expected to commit to making progress on delivering a central register of Local Land Charges, the Government has said as it launched a consultation on moving Land Registry operations into the private sector.’
Local Government Lawyer, 31st March 2016
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Strengthening the foundations of land ownership – Law Commission
‘The Law Commission is reviewing the legal framework that governs the registration of land in England and Wales. In a consultation opening on Thursday 31 March the Commission – the independent body that advises government on law reform – is asking how the Land Registration Act 2002 is working in practice and whether there are opportunities for the system to be clarified and updated.’
Law Commission, 31st March 2016
Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk
Land registration law up for review – Law Society’s Gazette
‘A new formula for determining which of two innocent parties of a land fraud should keep the property in question is among proposals for reform of the legal framework governing land registration in England and Wales to be published today.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 31st March 2016
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Court of Protection plans to shift more costs onto deputies – Law Society’s Gazette
‘The Court of Protection is considering giving judges more power to make family members cover the legal costs in disputes over an incapacitated person’s property, affairs or care.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 30th March 2016
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Ofcom to hold back ‘adequate spectrum’ for use by connected devices – OUT-LAW.com
‘A proportion of very high frequency (VHF) wireless spectrum will be reserved for future use by Internet of Things (IoT) connected devices, the UK telecoms regulator has announced.’
OUT-LAW.com, 29th March 2016
Source: www.out-law.com
Educational Excellence Everywhere? – Education Law Blog
‘The dust has started to settle on the Government’s education white paper: educational excellence everywhere. After a relatively slow start, the number of newspaper articles and interest on social media has picked up.’
Education Law Blog, 26th March 2016
Source: www.education11kbw.com
NHS blood contamination victims hit out at ‘reforms’ which cost them up to £7,000 a year – The Independent
‘Victims of the worst contaminated blood scandal in the NHS’s history say they have been betrayed by the Government after plans were revealed to reduce their annual payouts. About 5,000 people – many of them haemophiliacs – who were infected with HIV, hepatitis C or both after receiving infected blood in the 1970s and 1980s, have been sent letters from the Department of Health asking for their views on “reforms” that will leave them up to £7,000 a year worse off.’
The Independent, 21st March 2016
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Advertising Standards Authority moves to ban junk food adverts from online children’s programmes – The Independent
‘Advertisements for junk food on online children’s programmes are set to be banned under new guidelines, it has been reported.’
The Independent, 13th March 2016
Source: www.independent.co.uk
School closure consultation – Education Law Blog
‘The School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 sets out the process for establishing, altering and discontinuing schools in Wales. R (Edwards) v Flintshire County Council [2016] EWHC 459 (Admin) was an unsuccessful judicial review challenge of a decision by the Defendant LEA to issue statutory notices under Section 48 of that Act to close a High School. The ground of challenge was that the Council failed, in its consultation process, to comply with its obligation under Section 38(4) of the Act to act in accordance with the Welsh Ministers’ Code of School Organisation. The Act requires the Welsh Ministers to issue a code on school organisation. It may contain requirements and/or guidelines. By Section 38(4), those who exercise functions in relation to school organisation in Wales, including local education authorities, must, when exercising those functions, act in accordance with any relevant requirements contained in the Code, and have regard to any relevant guidelines contained in it. Section 48 requires a proposer for change to publish the proposals, consult and publish a report on the consultation, all in accordance with the published code. In April 2013, the Welsh Ministers published a Code on School Organisation. It came into force on 1 October 2013.’
Education Law Blog, 8th March 2016
Source: www.education11kbw.com
LSB: Regulators need to get tough with lawyers over poor complaints handling – Legal Futures
‘The Legal Services Board (LSB) is set to instruct the frontline regulators like the Solicitors Regulation Authority and Bar Standards Board to get tough with lawyers who do not handle client complaints properly.’
Legal Futures, 3rd March 2016
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Twitter to train prosecutors in fight against online abuse – The Guardian
‘Twitter is to train prosecutors in England and Wales to better fight online abuse, as the internet is increasingly used as a weapon by perpetrators of domestic abuse, rape and sexual violence against women.’
The Guardian, 3rd March 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Robert Thomas: Local Government Devolution in England – UK Constitutional Law Association
‘At last, devolution is happening in England, but there are some areas of concern especially as regards the lack of public engagement and the legal framework.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 2nd March 2016
Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org
Court of Appeal throws out solar farm challenge brought 14 months after planning permission was granted – OUT-LAW.com
‘A High Court judge should not have overturned planning permission granted to a solar farm in Wiltshire in response to a legal challenge brought 11 months after the three-month limitation period then in force had expired, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’
OUT-LAW.com, 1st March 2016
Source: www.out-law.com
Judiciary proposes fee ban and new name for McKenzie Friends – Legal Futures
‘England and Wales should follow the example of Scotland in banning McKenzie Friends from charging fees, the Judicial Executive Board (JEB) has proposed.’
Legal Futures, 25th February 2016
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Judiciary consults on the approach courts should take to McKenzie Friends – Court & Tribunals Judiciary
‘The Judicial Executive Board (JEB) has issued a consultation paper proposing reforms to the existing guidance for “McKenzie Friends”, non-lawyers who offer assistance and in some cases seek to appear as advocates on behalf of litigants-in-person (LiPs).’
Court & Tribunals Judiciary, 25th February 2016
Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk
