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

Too Hot to Work? Your Rights in a Heatwave – Rights Info

‘Most of your conversations in the workplace over the last few weeks have probably involved the weather, with blazing temperatures sweeping across much of the UK. MPs have warned that the current heatwave could become the new normal for our summers by 2040, so what are your rights when the mercury rises?’

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Rights Info, 26th July 2018

Source: rightsinfo.org

“Fragility” of criminal law firms threatening rights, MPs warn – Legal Futures

‘Fundamental rights to legal advice and representation for people accused of crimes are at risk, the justice select committee has warned, calling for a “comprehensive and independent” review of criminal legal aid.’

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Legal Futures, 26th July 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Firms failing to tackle sexual harassment, say MPs – BBC News

Posted July 25th, 2018 in employment, harassment, news, reports, select committees by tracey

‘Businesses, government and regulators are failing to tackle sexual harassment in the workplace, say MPs. The Parliamentary Women and Equalities Committee has published a five-point plan to deal with the problem.’

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BBC News, 25th July 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Statement following the publication of the Justice Select Committee report on Disclosure – Crown Prosecution Service

‘The Crown Prosecution Service and the National Police Chiefs Council have today (20 July) issued a joint response into the Justice Select Committee Report over Disclosure of evidence in criminal cases.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 20th July 2018

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Plans to close courts across the UK could see suspects failing to turn up for hearings, report warns – Daily Telegraph

‘Plans to close courts across the UK could see suspects failing to turn up for hearings, the public accounts committee has warned.’

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Daily Telegraph, 20th July 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Legal aid deserts: MPs and peers express ‘grave concerns’ – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Squeezing the legal aid budget has left vast numbers of people – including the most vulnerable – unable to assert their rights, the Law Society said today. In a report published today, Enforcing Human Rights, parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights reflects the Law Society’s concerns that large parts of England and Wales are becoming “legal aid deserts”, as solicitors are forced to withdraw from services because they can no longer afford to do the work.’

Full report

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Law Society's Gazette, 19th July 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Morecambe Bay: Nurse and midwife regulator apologises for failing families who lost children in scandal – The Independent

Posted July 18th, 2018 in birth, children, hospitals, midwives, news, nurses, select committees by tracey

‘The families of children who died because of major care failures by the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, have received an apology from the body meant to protect patients and the public from unsafe nurses and midwives.’

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The Independent, 17th July 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk