Payday loan firm accused over ‘cynical Christmas ad’ – The Guardian

Posted January 9th, 2019 in advertising, loans, news, select committees by sally

‘The chair of the Commons business select committee has demanded the financial regulator take action against the payday loan firm Provident, after it “cynically” advertised 535% APR loans over the Christmas period.’

Boohoo ‘broke advertising rules’, BBC Watchdog finds – BBC News

Posted December 5th, 2018 in advertising, complaints, news, ombudsmen, sale of goods, select committees, time limits by sally

‘Boohoo, the fast fashion retailer, broke Advertising Standards Authority rules with “misleading” promotions.’

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BBC News, 5th December 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

HMRC treating taxpayers unfairly, House of Lords report says – The Independent

Posted December 4th, 2018 in HM Revenue & Customs, news, select committees, tax avoidance, tax evasion by tracey

‘Taxpayers are being treated unfairly by HMRC, according to a new House of Lords report, which also warns that the government’s tax collection arm has become too powerful.’

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The Independent, 4th December 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Changes to spousal maintenance to be proposed tomorrow – Family Law

Posted November 23rd, 2018 in bills, divorce, families, financial provision, news, select committees by sally

‘Tomorrow, a Bill brought by Baroness Deech in the House of Lords will reach the committee stage. The Bill seeks to amend the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 with regard to financial settlements following divorce. The Bill proposes introducing a fixed-term limit for spousal maintenance, among other things. Some family lawyers are warning the Bill’s provisions are unnecessary, arbitrary and risk unfairness.’

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Family Law, 22nd November 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Peers criticise growing use of ‘Henry VIII’ powers by successive governments – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 21st, 2018 in constitutional law, legislation, news, parliament, select committees by tracey

‘Peers have hit out at the Government’s escalating use of so-called “Henry VIII powers”, describing the practice as “constitutionally objectional”. In a report the House of Lords Constitution Committee criticised the seeking of broad delegated powers that permit the determination as well as the implementation of policy, and in particular the use of such powers to create criminal offences and establish public bodies.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 20th November 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘Dilapidated’ courts need millions for repairs, says top judge – The Guardian

‘Courts in England and Wales are suffering from decades of neglect and need an injection of hundreds of millions of pounds for repairs, the lord chief justice has told MPs.’

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The Guardian, 20th November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Lords committee defends decision to suspend Anthony Lester – The Guardian

‘A House of Lords committee that suspended a Liberal Democrat peer who it found had sexually harassed a women’s rights campaigner has defended its decision, after the upper house voted to block the punishment.’

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The Guardian, 20th November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Peers question government’s approach to Civil Liability Bill – Legal Futures

Posted November 20th, 2018 in bills, constitutional law, news, personal injuries, regulations, select committees by sally

‘The government should only reject peers’ advice about the use of secondary legislation to enact key parts of legislation like the Civil Liability Bill if there are “clear and compelling reasons”, the House of Lords constitution committee said today.’

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Legal Futures, 20th November 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Victims of gagging clauses to get a voice as Parliament launches inquiry in wake of Sir Philip Green scandal – Daily Telegraph

‘Victims forced to sign gagging clauses could be given a voice as Parliament today launches a new inquiry into the use of non-disclosure agreements following the scandal surrounding Sir Philip Green.’

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Daily Telegraph, 13th November 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

MPs suggest patent law reforms to combat antimicrobial resistance – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 1st, 2018 in health, inquiries, medicines, news, patents, pilot schemes, select committees by sally

‘The UK government should consider changing patent law to incentivise major pharmaceutical companies to develop new antibiotics to address the “grave threat to health” posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a committee of MPs has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 1st November 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

MPs and peers demand changes to Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill requires further changes to protect the human rights of vulnerable people, MPs and peers have warned.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 31st October 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Crown Prosecution Service head: justice system can’t cope – The Guardian

‘Britain’s criminal justice system is “creaking” and unable to cope with the huge amounts of data being generated by technology, the head of the Crown Prosecution Service has warned in her final interview before stepping down.’

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The Guardian, 27th October 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Poor healthcare in jails is killing inmates, says NHS watchdog – The Guardian

‘Almost half of England’s jails are providing inadequate medical care to inmates, whose health is being damaged by widespread failings, the NHS watchdog has told MPs in a scathing briefing leaked to the Observer.’

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The Guardian, 27th October 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Home Office asks lawyers to help simplify immigration letters – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 19th, 2018 in detention, human rights, immigration, news, select committees, statistics by sally

‘The government will ask lawyers how letters to people navigating a ‘complex’ immigration system can be improved, as MPs take a closer look at proposals to reform immigration detention.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 18th October 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

MPs call for review of ‘patchwork’ laws on dangerous dogs – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 18th, 2018 in dogs, news, select committees by sally

‘A patchwork of dog control laws, including some that date back 150 years, is causing unnecessary confusion about liability, MPs have warned. The House of Commons select committee on environment, food and rural affairs has told the government to consolidate the ‘disparate pieces’ of legislation into a ‘single coherent’ Dog Control Act.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 17th October 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

MoJ seeks to allay concerns about the human rights impact of legal aid cuts – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 14th, 2018 in budgets, human rights, legal aid, news, select committees by tracey

‘The government has today published its response to MPs’ concerns about the “damaging” effects of legal aid reforms on human rights, painting a rosier picture than found by members of the joint committee on human rights.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 13th September 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Relaxing vaping laws would cut smoking deaths, say MPs – The Guardian

Posted August 17th, 2018 in health, news, select committees, smoking, taxation by sally

‘The government is missing an important opportunity to cut deaths from smoking, says a committee of MPs who are calling for a cut in the tax on e-cigarettes. They are also urging the government to allow more advertising and to rethink the ban on vaping on buses, trains and in other public places.’

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The Guardian, 17th August 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK human rights panel to investigate police use of child spies – The Guardian

Posted August 7th, 2018 in children, intelligence services, news, police, select committees, spying by sally

‘Parliament’s joint committee on human rights has been asked to investigate the use of child spies by the police and security services, after peers discovered powers covering the practice hidden in obscure secondary legislation.’

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The Guardian, 7th August 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bar Council response to Justice Select Committee report on Criminal Legal Aid – The Bar Council

Posted August 2nd, 2018 in barristers, criminal justice, press releases, reports, select committees by tracey

‘The Bar Council has responded to the House of Commons Justice Select Committee’s report on the current state of criminal legal aid in England and Wales.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 26th July 2018

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Government must change plans to let hospitals investigate own whistleblowing cases, MP say – The Independent

Posted August 2nd, 2018 in hospitals, news, reports, select committees, whistleblowers by tracey

‘Government plans for a new NHS whistleblowing service have come in for criticism from MPs over “conflict of interest” concerns about letting NHS hospitals investigate themselves.’

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The Independent, 2nd August 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk