Category: select committees

Digital Contact Tracing Updates from the Human Rights Committee – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted May 12th, 2020 in computer programs, coronavirus, data protection, news, privacy, select committees by sally

‘The Human Rights Committee, reviewing NHSX’s current digital contact tracing app architecture, has recommended that the government’s current privacy assurances are not sufficient to protect data privacy and that legislation must be passed to ensure that. This echoes Professor Lilian Edwards’ call for primary legislation to ensure privacy rights are protected. These recommendations are given special significance NHSX’s choice to adopt the controversial and arguably less secure “centralised” model.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 11th May 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

UK contact-tracing app could fall foul of privacy law, government told – The Guardian

Posted May 11th, 2020 in bills, computer programs, coronavirus, data protection, human rights, news, privacy, select committees by sally

‘The NHS contact-tracing app must not be rolled out across the UK until the government has increased privacy and data protections, an influential parliamentary committee has said, as rights groups warn that the current trial is unlawful under the Data Protection Act.’

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The Guardian, 7th May 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Optimism of the will, pessimism of the intellect – Nearly Legal

Posted May 5th, 2020 in coronavirus, landlord & tenant, news, reports, repossession, select committees, stay of proceedings by sally

‘According to this Inside Housing report of a Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee meeting today (4 May), the Housing Minister Robert Jenrick announced prospective measures to avoid a deluge of eviction proceedings at the expiry of the PD51Z stay.’

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Nearly Legal, 4th May 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Harry Dunn death: diplomatic immunity for Anne Sacoolas ‘illogical’ – The Guardian

Posted April 23rd, 2020 in accidents, dangerous driving, diplomats, government departments, immunity, interpretation, judicial review, news, road traffic offences, select committees, unlawful killing by sally

‘Britain agreed to let Anne Sacoolas, the driver charged with killing 19-year-old motorcyclist Harry Dunn, return to the US on the basis of an “apparently illogical” interpretation of the law on diplomatic immunity, according to the most senior civil servant at the Foreign Office.’

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The Guardian, 22nd April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Early advice enthusiast takes on legal aid brief at MoJ – Legal Futures

Posted March 4th, 2020 in barristers, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, news, select committees by sally

‘A criminal law barrister who has called for the restoration of legal aid for early advice has become the new minister at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) responsible for legal aid.’

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Legal Futures, 4th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Prisons: what’s gone wrong & how to fix it – Counsel

Posted February 21st, 2020 in budgets, drug abuse, news, prison officers, prisons, select committees, standards, statistics, suicide by sally

‘An abysmal mess? What our prisons tell us about our country today – by Nick Hardwick.’

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Counsel, February 2020

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

TV licence convictions hard to justify, says MP scrutinising BBC – The Guardian

Posted February 17th, 2020 in BBC, civil justice, criminal justice, enforcement, fines, licensing, news, select committees by sally

‘The Conservative MP tasked with scrutinising the BBC has said it is hard to justify enforcing the licence fee through the criminal courts, suggesting the corporation is losing support in its battle to prevent the decriminalisation of the £154.50 charge.’

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The Guardian, 15th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government accused of ignoring ‘calamitous failings’ caused by its own budget cuts with justice review – The Independent

Posted December 20th, 2019 in budgets, criminal justice, government departments, news, police, prisons, select committees, statistics by tracey

‘Legal campaigners have attacked the government’s announcement of a royal commission on the criminal justice system for “ignoring” the impact of its own budget cuts.’

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The Independent, 19th December 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Court reforms may not be completed in time, PAC warns – Legal Futures

Posted November 6th, 2019 in accounts, courts, delay, HM Courts Service, news, reports, select committees by sally

‘The government’s court modernisation programme may not be completed by the deadline of 2023, the House of Commons public accounts committee (PAC) has warned in its latest report on the project.’

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- Legal Futures, 6th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Court users with limited access to technology at risk of being left behind by court modernisation programme: MPs – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 4th, 2019 in electronic filing, learning difficulties, litigants in person, news, reports, select committees by sally

‘Court users with limited access to computers, poor literacy or limited understanding of how the law works could be disadvantaged and potentially left going through a case with no legal advice as a result of the courts and tribunals modernisation programme, MPs have said.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st November 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Chaotic court system threatens justice for vulnerable, say MPs – The Guardian

Posted November 1st, 2019 in budgets, computer programs, courts, electronic filing, equality, HM Courts Service, internet, news, reports, select committees by sally

‘The most vulnerable in society are at risk of being excluded from access to justice due to poor digital skills, lack of legal advice, court closures and “dilapidated” courthouses, MPs have warned in a damning critique of the government’s modernisation programmes.’

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The Guardian, 31st October 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

MoJ: No change to whiplash reform timetable – Legal Futures

Posted November 1st, 2019 in accidents, compensation, consultations, damages, elections, Ministry of Justice, news, personal injuries, road traffic, select committees by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is continuing to work towards April 2020 to implement the whiplash reforms despite the upcoming election, it has confirmed.’

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Legal Futures, 1st November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Government vows to outlaw NDA cover-ups in sex harassment cases after inquiry prompted by Sir Philip Green scandal – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 29th, 2019 in harassment, news, non-disclosure agreements, select committees by tracey

‘Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) which cover up discrimination and harassment are “unacceptable”, the Government has said as it vows a crackdown in wake of the investigation into Sir Philip Green.’

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Daily Telegraph, 29th October 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Post-Legislative Memorandum: The Defamation Act 2013 – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 18th, 2019 in defamation, legislation, news, reports, select committees by tracey

‘This post-legislative memorandum contains information on the operation of the Defamation Act 2013 for consideration by the Justice Select Committee.’

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Ministry of Justice, 17th October 2019

Source: www.gov.uk

MPs announce inquiry into Thomas Cook collapse – The Guardian

Posted September 27th, 2019 in auditors, company directors, holidays, inquiries, insolvency, news, select committees by tracey

‘MPs are to hold an inquiry into the role of “corporate greed” in the collapse of Thomas Cook, focusing on directors’ stewardship of the company, how much they were paid and how its accounts were prepared and signed off by auditors.’

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The Guardian, 26th September 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government must end ‘irreparable harm’ inflicted on children whose mothers are in prison, warn MPs – The Independent

Posted September 10th, 2019 in children, families, imprisonment, news, select committees, sentencing, women by tracey

‘The government needs to take action to end the “irreparable harm” inflicted on children whose mothers are in prison, MPs and peers have warned. Courts often do not have adequate information about whether a defendant has children and how a sentence would impact their lives, the Joint Committee on Human Rights said.’

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The Independent, 9th September 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

MPs call for tougher penalties on drivers using mobile phones – The Guardian

Posted August 13th, 2019 in accidents, dangerous driving, enforcement, news, road traffic offences, select committees, statistics, telecommunications by tracey

‘Tougher restrictions on drivers using mobile phones, including extending the ban to hands-free devices, should be considered, MPs have said. The transport select committee said using any type of mobile phone while driving had potentially catastrophic consequences. The MPs called for more severe penalties “commensurate with the risks”, as road deaths linked to phone use have risen steadily over the past decade.’

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The Guardian, 13th August 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Chicken shop’ drug gangs recruit children with food, inquiry finds – The Guardian

Posted August 12th, 2019 in children, drug trafficking, gangs, news, offensive weapons, select committees by tracey

‘Criminal “chicken shop gangs” are recruiting children to deal drugs with the offer of free food, a parliamentary investigation has found. So-called chicken shop grooming was described in written evidence submitted to the youth select committee, which is investigating the UK’s knife crime epidemic.’

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The Guardian, 12th August 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

MPs call for QOCS to cover discrimination cases – Litigation Futures

Posted July 30th, 2019 in costs, damages, enforcement, equality, news, select committees by sally

‘Qualified one-way costs shifting (QOCS) should be extended to cover discrimination cases in the county court, MPs on the House of Commons women and equalities committee have recommended.’

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Litigation Futures, 30th July 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

MPs call for 10-year limit on prosecution of soldiers – The Guardian

Posted July 22nd, 2019 in armed forces, human rights, limitations, news, Northern Ireland, prosecutions, select committees, time limits by sally

‘A 10-year “qualified statute of limitations” should be introduced to protect veterans and serving armed forces personnel from reinvestigation for alleged crimes, MPs have said.’

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The Guardian, 22nd July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com