Ken Clarke: £50m for victims’ services – Ministry of Justice

Posted January 31st, 2012 in consultations, crime, criminal injuries compensation, fines, news, victims by sally

“An overhaul of victims’ services could see up to £50m generated from offenders to help create a speedier, more supportive system for victims of serious crime.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 30th January 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

More secret trials? No thanks – UK Human Rights Blog

“A child learns early that if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it. Thankfully that principle does not apply to Government consultations and this is aptly demonstrated by the responses to the consultation into whether ‘closed material’ (secret evidence) procedures should be extended to civil trials.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 31st January 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Landlords could become liable for tenants’ unpaid water bills under Government plans – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 24th, 2012 in consultations, landlord & tenant, news, water by sally

“Landlords could become liable for their tenants’ unpaid water bills if they fail to supply the details of those tenants to the water company, the Government has said.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 24th January 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Wind farm development – A Note on some recent legal issues for decision makers – No.5 Chambers

Posted January 24th, 2012 in consultations, energy, judicial review, news, planning by sally

“Onshore wind, and energy infrastructure generally, is a form of development which gives rise to strongly held views, on all sides. Resolving the competing environmental and policy issues is difficult enough, but this form of development also has a propensity to attract legal challenge.”

Full story (PDF)

No.5 Chambers, 20th January 2012

Source: www.no5.com

Consultation and Legitimate Expectations – 11KBW

Posted January 24th, 2012 in consultations, news by sally

“Whether or not there is in law an obligation to consult, where consultation is embarked upon it must be carried out fairly. What is ‘fair’ will obviously depend on the circumstances of the case and the nature of the proposals under consideration: see R (Edwards) v Environment Agency [2006] EWCA Civ 877 per Auld LJ at [90].”

Full story (PDF)

11KBW, 19th January 2012

Source: www.11kbw.com

Code review report – Bar Standards Board

Posted January 16th, 2012 in barristers, consultations, news, professional conduct by sally

“The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has published an analysis of responses to the Review of the Code of Conduct consultation, which is now available to view and download.”

Full story

Bar Standards Board, 11th January 2012

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Councils face ban on issuing fines to people who leave bins out on wrong day – The Guardian

Posted January 16th, 2012 in consultations, fines, local government, news, waste by sally

“Householders will no longer face fines for making ‘innocent mistakes’ when putting out their bins under plans being announced by the government this week.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Consultation opens on separate jurisdiction for Wales – Law Society’sWelsh Assembly members have begun consulting on the establishment of a separate legal jurisdiction for the principality – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 5th, 2012 in constitutional reform, consultations, jurisdiction, news, Wales by tracey

“Welsh Assembly members have begun consulting on the establishment of a separate legal jurisdiction for the principality.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 4th January 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Government’s HMO changes are not unlawful, Court of Appeal ruled – OUT-LAW.com

“It was not unlawful for the Government to introduce new laws that gave greater development rights for houses in multiple occupation (HMO) without consulting councils for a second time, the Court of Appeal has ruled.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 19th December 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Insurance Contract Law: Post Contract Duties and other Issues – Law Commission

Posted December 20th, 2011 in consultations, contracts, insurance, Law Commission by tracey

“Insurance Contract Law: Post Contract Duties and other Issues.”

Full consultation paper

Law Commission, 20th December 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission

Extending domestic violence protection – Home Office

Posted December 15th, 2011 in consultations, domestic violence, news by sally

“Young people under 18 could be included in the cross-government definition of domestic violence for the first time, under a consultation launched by the Home Secretary Theresa May today (14 December).”

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Home Office, 14th December 2011

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

New sentencing proposals for dangerous dog offences – public consultation launched – Sentencing Council

Posted December 15th, 2011 in consultations, dogs, news, sentencing by sally

“New proposals about how the owners of dangerous dogs should be sentenced by the courts are being announced today, with the launch of a public consultation on the first sentencing guideline that covers dangerous dog offences.”

Full story

Sentencing Council, 15th December 2011

Source: http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk

Related link: Dangerous Dog Offences Guideline Consultation (PDF)

Draft tax legislation gives greater predictability and clarity – HM Treasury

“Following Budget 2011, the Government has today published responses to a number of tax policy consultations, alongside draft clauses for legislation to be included in Finance Bill 2012.”

Full story

HM Treasury, 6th December 2011

Source: www.hm-treasury.gov.uk

Bar aiming to bypass ‘superfluous’ solicitors – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 2nd, 2011 in barristers, consultations, news, solicitors by tracey

“Solicitors are dismissed as ‘superfluous intermediaries’ in a new bar consultation paper which recommends making it easier for the public to bypass them and instruct barristers directly.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 2nd December 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Should more trials be held in secret? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted December 1st, 2011 in consultations, evidence, intelligence services, news, private hearings, trials by sally

“There is just over a month left to respond to the Government’s consultation on the Justice and Security Green Paper. Responses have to be be sent via email or post by Friday 6 January 2012.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 1st December 2011

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Reduced consultation periods and overhauled tribunal system proposed as part of ‘radical’ employment law changes – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 24th, 2011 in consultations, employment tribunals, news, redundancy, unfair dismissal by sally

“The 90 day minimum consultation period for collective redundancies may be restricting business and could be reduced as part of the most radical reform to employment law for decades, the Government has said.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 24th November 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Crown Prosecution Service fees – The Bar Council

Posted November 24th, 2011 in barristers, consultations, Crown Prosecution Service, fees, news by sally

“The Bar Council invites criminal barristers to submit their views on the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Graduated Fee Scheme. A representative group from the Bar has been engaged in discussions with the CPS, and soundings have been taken on these proposals from across the Circuits. Click here to read a document from the Bar Council setting out the details of those discussions.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 23rd November 2011

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Majority verdict: we already have a bill of rights – The Guardian

Posted November 23rd, 2011 in bills, consultations, human rights, legal aid, news, sentencing by sally

“Adam Wagner examines some of the responses to the consultation on a UK bill of rights.”

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd November 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Clarke: Judiciary in need of modernisation and diversification – Ministry of Justice

Posted November 22nd, 2011 in consultations, diversity, judicial appointments commission, judiciary, news by sally

“Sweeping new proposals that will reform, modernise and improve the diversity of judicial appointments were announced by the Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke, today.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 21st November 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Should swearing be against the law? – BBC News

Posted November 22nd, 2011 in consultations, freedom of expression, news, public order by sally

“A High Court judge has ruled that people should not be punished for hurling obscenities in public because such words are now so common they no longer cause distress. Should the courts punish profanity?”

Full story

BBC News, 21st November 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk