Reforming electoral law across the UK – Law Commission

Posted December 10th, 2014 in consultations, elections, Law Commission, news, referendums by sally

‘In a consultation opening today [9 December] the Law Commissions of England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland set out provisional proposals for reforming the law that governs the conduct of elections and referendums across the UK.’

Full story

Law Commission, 9th December 2014

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

Rights to light – making the law more transparent – Law Commission

Posted December 4th, 2014 in human rights, Law Commission, news, planning, reports by sally

‘In a report published today, the Law Commission is recommending reforms to the law governing rights to light that will strike a balance between the interests of landowners and the law’s recognition of the need for appropriate development.’

Full story

Law Commission, 4th December 2014

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

Simplification of Criminal Law: Kidnapping and Related Offences – Law Commission

Posted November 20th, 2014 in child abduction, false imprisonment, kidnapping, Law Commission, reports by tracey

‘A report recommending reforms to the law relating to kidnapping, false imprisonment and child abduction.’

Full report

Law Commission, 20th November 2014

Source: www.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission

Government gives green light to level crossing reform – Law Commission

Posted November 6th, 2014 in health & safety, Law Commission, news, railways, road safety, roads by sally

‘The Government has accepted the majority of the reforms to level crossing law recommended by the Law Commission and Scottish Law Commission, and has committed to review the remainder.’

Full story

Law Commission, 5th November 2014

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

Jackson calls for single limitation period – Litigation Futures

Posted November 4th, 2014 in contracts, judges, Law Commission, limitations, news, reports, speeches by sally

‘Lord Justice Jackson has called on the government to create a “single core limitation regime” for all claims in contract and tort, as recommended by the Law Commission.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 4th November 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Are juries being blinded by science? – The Guardian

Posted October 15th, 2014 in criminal justice, expert witnesses, forensic science, juries, Law Commission, news by sally

‘Expert witnesses are being subjected to greater scrutiny by the criminal courts, despite the government’s refusal to implement safeguards recommended by its own law reform advisers.’

Full story

The Guardian, 15th October 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Clarifying the legal framework for social investment by charities – Law Commission

Posted September 24th, 2014 in charities, Law Commission, news by sally

‘In a paper published today the Law Commission explains the existing legal framework for social investment by charities and recommends measures to simplify and clarify the law.’

Full story

Law Commission, 24th September 2014

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

Law Commission urges full reform project on data sharing and public bodies – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 22nd, 2014 in consultations, data protection, Law Commission, news, privacy, reports by sally

‘The Law Commission has this month recommended that a full law reform project should be carried out “in order to create a principled and clear legal structure for data sharing, which will meet the needs of society”.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 21st July 2014

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Data sharing rules must be reformed – Law Commission

Posted July 14th, 2014 in data protection, disclosure, Law Commission, news, privacy by sally

‘The law that governs how public bodies share data must be modernised, simplified and clarified, according to the Law Commission. Law reform will help to create a principled and clear legal structure for protecting individual privacy and for the data sharing required by today’s public bodies and the people they serve.’

Full story

Law Commission, 11th July 2014

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

Law Commission clarifies law on pension trust investment – Law Commission

Posted July 1st, 2014 in Law Commission, news, pensions, reports, trusts by sally

‘Pension fund trustees do not have to “maximise returns” in the short-term at the expense of risks over the longer term, according to a report published today by the Law Commission.’

Full story

Law Commission, 1st July 2014

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

A new test to determine who is fit for trial – Law Commission

‘How do we determine whether someone accused of a crime is physically and mentally fit to participate in a criminal trial? And what do we do if they are not? These are the questions being examined today as the Law Commission brings together leading experts in criminal law and mental health to exchange views at a consultation event at Leeds University.’

Full story

Law Commission, 11th June 2014

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

Law Commission: lack of government support led us to drop injury fraud project –

‘The Law Commission has said that lack of support from the Ministry of Justice was behind its decision not to include the law on fraud by personal injury victims in its latest reform programme.’


Full story

Litigation Futures, 10th June 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Hate crime: should the current offences be extended? – Law Commission

In a report published today the Law Commission recommends reforms to ensure that the criminal justice system is able to make a stronger and more coherent response to hate crime.

Full story

Law Commission, 28th May 2014

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

Reforming the regulation of taxis and private hire vehicles – Law Commission

Posted May 28th, 2014 in Law Commission, licensing, news, taxis by sally

‘Taxis and private hire services, which include minicabs, are an essential link in the transport network of England and Wales, with passengers spending in excess of £2.5 billion a year on fares.’

Full story

Law Commission, 23rd May 2014

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

Will there be reform for cohabiting couples? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted May 20th, 2014 in cohabitation, financial provision, judges, Law Commission, news by sally

‘The Head of the Family Division, Sir James Munby, recently held a press conference where he addressed the wide ranging reforms of the family justice system that came into force on 22 April 2014. He was also asked to look to the future.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 20th May 2014

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Rise in couples seeking pre-nups – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 12th, 2014 in divorce, Law Commission, marriage, news, prenuptial agreements, statistics by sally

‘Law firms report an increase in people seeking pre-nuptial agreements in the wake of new guidance from the Law Commission.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 11th May 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Social Investment by Charities – Law Commission

Posted April 24th, 2014 in charities, consultations, Law Commission by tracey

‘We are opening a consultation seeking views on changes to the law that governs how charities make social investments. The consultation paper analyses the legal framework, explains the ways in which the law already supports charity trustees and proposes changes that would clarify the way in which charities can use social investments to achieve their charitable aims.’

Full press release

Law Commission, 24th April 2014

Source: www.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission

Divorce myths to be dispelled – Ministry of Justice

‘Separating couples will be given clear new guidelines setting out what they should expect when property and income is distributed by the courts, Simon Hughes has announced.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 17th April 2014

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

Intellectual property law – achieving a balance between the right to enforce and protecting innovation – Law Commission

‘Patents, trade marks and design rights are valuable intellectual property (IP) rights and vital to economic growth. They ensure that research and innovation is encouraged and rewarded. And, for some small businesses, they can represent their most significant assets. The law provides effective ways to enforce IP rights but these can be misused to drive competitors from the market. In a report published today, the Law Commission is recommending reforms that will allow individuals and businesses to protect their IP rights but not at the expense of new ideas and inventions.’

Full report

Law Commission, 15th April 2014

Source: www.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission

Regulating Health Care Professionals – Law Commission

‘A single clear and consistent legal framework is needed to enable the regulators of health professionals in the UK to modernise and continue to uphold their duty to protect public safety, according to the three Law Commissions of the UK.’

Full story

Law Commission, 2nd April 2014

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk