Probation service ‘revolution’ means wholesale privatisation – The Guardian

Posted January 9th, 2013 in competition, consultations, contracting out, news, probation, recidivists by sally

“The justice secretary, Chris Grayling, is to outline plans for the wholesale outsourcing of the probation service with private companies and voluntary sector organisations to take over the rehabilitation of the majority of offenders by 2015.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th Januaury 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Pub industry adjudicator plans put forward – BBC News

“The government has announced plans for an independent adjudicator in the pub industry to help struggling landlords.”

Full story

BBC News, 8th January 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Law Commission Consultation on Marital Property : FLBA Response – Family Law Bar Association

Posted January 8th, 2013 in barristers, consultations, Law Commission, matrimonial home, news by sally

“Download the FLBA Response to the Law Commission Consultation on Matrimonial Property, Needs and Agreements.”

Full story

Family Law Bar Association, 7th January 2013

Source: www.flba.co.uk

Government plan for mesothelioma claims process draws heavy fire from claimant lawyers – Litigation Futures

Posted December 20th, 2012 in cancer, compensation, consultations, delay, fees, news by tracey

“Lawyers acting on the new system for dealing with mesothelioma claims will be paid on fixed-fee basis, the government announced yesterday.”

Full story

Litigation Futures, 19th December 2012

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Academies in court: recent case law – 11 KBW

“This paper concentrates on three recent cases concerning different aspects of the emerging law on Academies:
(1) Consultation on Academy conversions under s.5 Academies Act 2010 (‘the 2010
Act’);
(2) The extent of the obligation on Academies (both pre and post 2010 Act) to admit
children with a statement of Special Educational Needs (‘SSEN’); and
(3) The new Academy ‘presumption’ in s.6A of the Education and Inspections Act 2006.”

Full story (PDF)

11 KBW, 4th December 2012

Source: www.11kbw.com

Calling time on Scandalising the Court – Law Commission

“The Law Commission is recommending that the offence of scandalising the court should be abolished and not replaced.”

Full story

Law Commission, 19th December 2012

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

Fee remissions in the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 19th, 2012 in asylum, consultations, immigration, legal aid, news by sally

“The consultation is aimed at anyone who has an interest in immigration, asylum and nationality matters or who would be affected by the removal of legal aid for most non-detention immigration appeals when the relevant provisions of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 comes into force in April 2013.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 18th December 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Internet porn: Automatic block rejected – BBC News

“Ministers have rejected plans to automatically block internet access to pornography on all computers, saying the move is not widely supported.”

Full story

BBC News, 15th December 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Quicker, costlier and less appealing: plans for Judicial Review reform revealed – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted December 14th, 2012 in consultations, judicial review, news by tracey

“The Government has revealed its plans to reform Judicial Review, and has opened a public consultation which closes on 24 January 2013.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 13th December 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Judicial Review: proposals for reform – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 13th, 2012 in consultations, judicial review, news, planning, public procurement, time limits by sally

“The Government is seeking views on a package of measures to stem the growth in applications for judicial reviews. The measures aim to tackle the burden that this growth has placed on stretched public services whilst protecting access to justice and the rule of law. The engagement exercise seeks views on proposals in three key areas; reducing the time limits for bringing a judicial review relating to procurement or planning, bringing them into line with the appeal timetable which already applies to those cases.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 13th December 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Consultation on proposed changes to the Patents Act 1977 – Intellectual Property Office

Posted December 12th, 2012 in consultations, intellectual property, news, patents by sally

“The Review of Intellectual Property and Growth published by Professor Hargreaves in 2011 recognised the important role the UK’s patent system plays in supporting innovation and economic growth. However, the review highlighted the need for the IP framework to be more adaptable and recognised a need for change in some aspects of the way the IP system operates. Such changes will ensure the IP system continues to encourage innovation and support those UK businesses which recognise the competitive advantage that can be gained through intellectual property (‘IP’) rights.”

Consultation (PDF)

Intellectual Property Office, December 2012

Source: www.ipo.gov.uk

Whiplash crackdown – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 12th, 2012 in compensation, consultations, news, personal injuries, road traffic, small claims by sally

“New measures to bring down the number and cost of whiplash claims, including speculative and fraudulent applications has been announced today [11th December].”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 11th December 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Introduction of tax general anti abuse rule (GAAR) delayed for several months, says Treasury – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 11th, 2012 in bills, consultations, legislation, news, taxation by sally

“The general anti abuse rule (GAAR) will come into force from royal assent to the Finance Bill 2013 and not from 1 April 2013 as originally proposed, according to draft legislation for the Finance Bill 2013 published today.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 11th December 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Reducing the number and cost of whiplash claims – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 11th, 2012 in consultations, news, personal injuries, road traffic, small claims by sally

“The Government is committed to finding ways of tackling fraudulent and exaggerated whiplash claims, whilst ensuring that people who have suffered a genuine neck injury should continue to be able to get appropriate compensation. However, increases in claims for compensation relating to whiplash injuries are having a significant impact on the motor insurance premiums paid by individuals, families and businesses.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 11th December 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Reforming Electoral Law in the UK – Law Commission

Posted December 11th, 2012 in consultations, elections, Law Commission, news, referendums by sally

“The Law Commission has identified the areas of UK electoral law that will come under scrutiny in a forthcoming review. The review, which will be conducted jointly with the Scottish Law Commission and the Northern Ireland Law Commission, aims to reform the law relating to elections and referendums across the UK.”

Full story

Law Commission, 11th December 2012

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

Whiplash proposals target fraudulent claims with increase in RTA small claims limit to £5,000 – Litigation Futures

Posted December 11th, 2012 in compensation, consultations, news, personal injuries, road traffic, small claims by sally

“The government will today finally unveil its long-awaited consultation on increasing the small claims limit for road traffic personal injury cases from £1,000 to £5,000, a move that would decimate the workload of many law firms.”

Full story

Litigation Futures, 11th December 2012

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Consultation on Repeal of sections 63 to 67 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974: Abolishing Noise Abatement Zones – Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Posted December 10th, 2012 in consultations, local government, news, noise by sally

“This consultation seeks views on the Repeal of sections 63 to 67 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 in relation to England and Wales, which would abolish all existing Noise Abatement Zones and prevent new ones being established.”

Consultation (PDF)

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, December 2012

Source: www.defra.gov.uk

LSB responds to consultation by revising plans for regulation of special bodies – Legal Services Board

“Special bodies – including not-for profit agencies and community interest companies –
providing reserved legal activities will not become licensed under the Legal Services Act 2007
until at least April 2015, the LSB confirms today [5 December].”

Full story (PDF)

Legal Services Board, 5th December 2012

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

LIBOR administrators will be required to corroborate submissions under FSA proposals – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 7th, 2012 in banking, consultations, financial regulation, interest, news by sally

“Clear, unambiguous rules on the administration of, and submitting to, the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and other benchmarks will be included in the regulatory handbook, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has said.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 6th December 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Prison sentences: How do judges decide them? – BBC News

Posted December 6th, 2012 in consultations, detention, judges, news, sentencing by sally

“Changes are in the pipeline for the sentencing of sex offenders. But what principles govern how long a criminal is jailed for?”

Full story

BBC News, 6th December 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk