Offender tagging scheme is ‘catastrophic waste of public money’ – The Guardian

‘The Ministry of Justice’s programme to introduce the next generation of satellite tracking tags for offenders has been “fundamentally flawed” and proved “a catastrophic waste of public money”, MPs have concluded.’

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The Guardian, 24th January 2018

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government introduces new product safety office – BBC News

Posted January 22nd, 2018 in consumer protection, fire, health & safety, news, select committees by sally

‘The government is creating a new Office for Product Safety and Standards to help manage large-scale product recalls and identify risks to consumers.’

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BBC News, 21st January 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK training body took out superinjunction to block critical report – The Guardian

Posted January 18th, 2018 in education, injunctions, news, reports, select committees by sally

‘Britain’s biggest training provider successfully applied for a superinjunction that stopped official inspectors from passing on a critical report to the government, it has emerged.’

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The Guardian, 16th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Private probation firms face huge losses despite £342m ‘bailout’ – The Guardian

Posted January 18th, 2018 in contracting out, criminal justice, news, probation, select committees, sentencing by tracey

‘Private probation companies responsible for supervising more than 200,000 offenders in England and Wales face total losses of more than £100m, even after a £342m “bailout” by the Ministry of Justice, MPs have been told.’

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The Guardian, 17th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government urged to ban nuisance calls and texts from claims firms – The Guardian

‘British consumers were bombarded with 2.2bn nuisance phone calls and texts from pensions, PPI and cash-for-crash claims firms last year, according to an analysis of Ofcom data.’

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The Guardian, 8th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Put constitutional right of access to justice at heart of LASPO review, MPs say – Legal Futures

‘The government review of its legal aid reforms should reflect this summer’s Supreme Court ruling on access to justice as a constitutional right, the justice select committee said.’

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Legal Futures, 21st December 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

MPs call for urgent ban on pensions cold calling – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 13th, 2017 in bills, financial advice, news, select committees, telecommunications by sally

‘The House of Commons Work & Pensions committee has urged the government to accelerate plans to ban pensions cold calling and provide better guidance to pensioners on their options.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 12th December 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

The Trade Bill – renegotiation and renewal of EU trade agreements after Brexit – in this new constitutional territory more Parliamentary scrutiny is urgently needed – Brexit Law

‘The lack of adequate Parliamentary scrutiny when the UK negotiates trade agreements (something it has not done in its own right for many years) has come to the attention of the House of Commons International Trade Committee. This is timely given the prospect of the UK negotiating the single most important trade agreement it is likely to negotiate for a long time – its future trade agreement with the EU. The context for the Committee’s concern is its inquiry into the Trade Bill. One of the issues which the Bill addresses is the domestic implementation in the UK of those EU trade agreements which are adapted for continued application by the UK after Brexit. The Committee has asked whether Parliamentary scrutiny of ministerial rules implementing these agreements is adequate, and, more broadly, whether scrutiny of the UK signing up to these and other trade agreements, is adequate.’

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Brexit Law, 6th December 2017

Source: brexit.law

Gig economy reform – how to balance innovation and the protection of workers – Technology Law Update

Posted November 27th, 2017 in bills, employment, flexible working, news, reports, select committees by sally

‘The position of workers in the gig economy, those on zero hours contracts and agency workers has been the focus of political attention recently. While these models provide valuable flexibility to businesses, especially those using innovative technology like using an app or a website to hire someone for a particular task, they can leave individuals with insecure incomes and future prospects, and unprotected from exploitative companies. They can also leave the most responsible businesses at a disadvantage.’

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Technology Law Update, 23rd November 2017

Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk

Rule of law in UK at risk after Brexit, says former supreme court president – The Guardian

‘The legal implications of leaving the EU have not been thought through, could overwhelm the supreme court and endanger the independence of the British judiciary, four senior retired judges have warned.’

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The Guardian, 21st November 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Change law to protect gig economy workers, MPs’ report urges – The Guardian

Posted November 20th, 2017 in bills, news, select committees, self-employment by tracey

‘The government is under pressure to change the law to tackle bogus self-employment and protect workers in the gig economy after a report published on Monday by two influential parliamentary committees.’

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The Guardian, 20th November 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

MPs denounce food regulator after 2 Sisters chicken scandal – The Guardian

Posted November 17th, 2017 in food hygiene, news, reports, select committees by tracey

‘Scathing report by MPs attacks oversight and inspection regimes at Food Standards Agency and local authorities.’

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The Guardian, 17th November 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Disastrous’ offender tagging scheme hit by fresh delays – The Guardian

Posted November 14th, 2017 in criminal justice, delay, news, select committees by tracey

‘Fresh delays have hit the government’s scandal-hit programme for the electronic tagging of offenders, which mean the next-generation satellite tracking tags will not come into use until early 2019, MPs have been told.’

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The Guardian, 13th November 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Peers warn of low morale in judiciary and call for greater diversity – The Guardian

Posted November 3rd, 2017 in diversity, judiciary, news, pensions, remuneration, select committees by tracey

‘The dilapidated state of some courts, a shortage of support staff and heavy administrative burdens are depressing the judiciary’s morale, a parliamentary report has warned.’

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The Guardian, 2nd November 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government reiterates plans for EU-UK data flows post-Brexit amidst criticism of Data Protection Bill powers – OUT-LAW.com

‘The UK government has reiterated its plans to establish an agreement with the remainder of the EU member states that will allow personal data to flow across borders unhindered post-Brexit.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 30th October 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

Prisoners Will Finally Be Given The Vote, Say Reports – Rights Info

‘A limited number of prisoners will be allowed to vote ending the UK’s total ban on prisoners voting, according to reports.’

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Rights Info, 29th October 2017

Source: rightsinfo.org

Youth Justice System ‘Falls Short’ of Human Rights Obligations, MPs Claim – Rights Info

‘The current system of disclosing past convictions undermines the principles of the youth justice system, according to a report published today by the Justice Committee.’

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Rights Info, 27th October 2017

Source: rightsinfo.org

Youth crime disclosure rules wholly inappropriate, say MPs – BBC News

‘Rules on disclosing crimes committed in childhood in England and Wales should be “radically revised”, say MPs.’

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BBC News, 27th October 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MPs threaten to use parliamentary powers to force disclosure of critical RBS report – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 13th, 2017 in banking, news, reports, select committees by tracey

‘Treasury committee chair Nicky Morgan has threatened to use parliamentary powers to force the disclosure of a report into the conduct of RBS’s controversial business restructuring arm.’

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Daily Telegraph, 13th October 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

House of Lords committee to look into need for Brexit transition deal – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 29th, 2017 in brexit, EC law, inquiries, international relations, news, select committees, speeches, treaties by sally

‘A House of Lords committee is to examine the legal basis for, and potential costs to the UK of, a time-limited Brexit transitional period.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 28th September 2017

Source: www.out-law.com