Sheffield council faces mass equal pay claim over ‘scandalous’ pay grades – The Guardian

‘Sheffield city council is to become the latest local authority to face a mass equal pay claim from women who have been underpaid by up to £11,000 a year, the GMB union has said.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 25th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Acts – legisation.gov.uk

Posted September 22nd, 2023 in contract of employment, employment, legislation, Northern Ireland, terrorism by tracey

2023 c. 46 – Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Act 2023

2023 c. 41 – Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted September 22nd, 2023 in legislation by tracey

SI 2023/1028 – The Data Protection (Adequacy) (United States of America) Regulations 2023

SI 2023/1025 – The Response to the Committee on Climate Change Report (Extension of Period) Order 2023

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Offers of accommodation and the public sector equality duty – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 22nd, 2023 in appeals, benefits, equality, housing, local government, news by tracey

‘Michael Mullin and Scarlet Taylor-Waller analyse an important Court of Appeal ruling in a case where a council offered accommodation in Walsall to an appellant who had lived all her life in London.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st September 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Local authorities and the Building Safety Regulator – Local Government Lawyer

‘Simon Lewis and Michelle Essen look at the impact of the Building Safety Act 2022 on councils.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 22nd September 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Step forward to online lasting powers of attorney – Ministry of Justice

Posted September 22nd, 2023 in internet, Ministry of Justice, news, powers of attorney by tracey

‘The most vulnerable in society will be better protected as reforms to simplify and streamline lasting powers of attorney are given Royal Assent.’

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Ministry of Justice, 19th September 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Tying the Knot Abroad – Family Law

Posted September 22nd, 2023 in foreign jurisdictions, marriage, news by tracey

‘For those romantics, escapees from tradition (Las Vagas chapel not country church) or the merely impetuous, what does getting married abroad mean in terms of validity of the marriage? And for those who marry abroad and subsequently move to live in the UK, is their marriage recognised?’

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Family Law, 14th September 2023

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Speech by Judge Barry Clarke: Discrimination in Employment/Industrial Courts – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted September 22nd, 2023 in courts, employment, equality, judges, news, tribunals, unfair dismissal by tracey

‘Speech by Judge Barry Clarke: Discrimination in Employment/Industrial Courts.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 18th September 2023

Source: www.judiciary.uk

BSB publishes new guidance on barristers’ conduct in non-professional life and on social media – Bar Standards Board

Posted September 22nd, 2023 in barristers, codes of practice, consultations, internet, news, professional conduct by tracey

‘Following the conclusion of the Bar Standards Board’s (BSB) consultation on conduct in non-professional life, the BSB Board has approved new guidance which we are publishing today. The guidance includes revised Social Media Guidance, new Guidance on the Regulation of Non-Professional Conduct, the BSB’s response to the consultation and revisions to BSB Handbook guidance.’

Full guidance

Full Story

Bar Standards Board, 20th September 2023

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

AI developing too fast for regulators to keep up, says Oliver Dowden – The Guardian

‘Artificial intelligence is developing too fast for regulators to keep up, the UK’s deputy prime minister is to announce as he aims to galvanise other countries to take the threat seriously in advance of the UK’s AI safety summit in November.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 22nd September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Hospital watchdog takes action against NHS trust over patient safety concerns – The Independent

Posted September 22nd, 2023 in autism, health & safety, hospitals, learning difficulties, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘Hospital regulators have taken enforcement action against an NHS trust after patients were found to have ingested batteries and screws amidst a catalogue of failings. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) upheld its “inadequate” rating of Brooklands hospital in Birmingham – which specialises in care for adults with autism and learning disabilities – after an inspection in March.’

Full Story

The Independent, 22nd September 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Swansea: PC Jack Williams jailed for punching autistic man – BBC News

Posted September 22nd, 2023 in assault, autism, imprisonment, news, police, professional conduct, sentencing by tracey

‘A policeman who punched an autistic man in the head seven times during an arrest has been jailed for 12 weeks.’

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BBC News, 21st September 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal set to be cleared by UK regulator – The Guardian

Posted September 22nd, 2023 in competition, computer programs, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘Microsoft’s $69bn (£54bn) deal to buy Activision Blizzard, the maker of games including Call of Duty and World of Warcraft, looks set to be cleared after the UK competition regulator said a revised deal addresses its concerns.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 22nd September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Five companies fined £590,000 for making almost 2 million marketing calls targeting vulnerable people – The Independent

Posted September 21st, 2023 in advertising, elderly, fines, insurance, news, telecommunications by sally

‘Five companies have been fined a total of £590,000 for collectively making 1.9 million unwanted marketing calls to elderly and vulnerable people.’

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The Independent, 21st September 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Anonymous litigant barred from bitcoin costs challenge – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 21st, 2023 in anonymity, costs, cryptocurrencies, news by sally

‘The absence of a specific procedure rule requiring a paying party’s name and address in costs assessment proceedings does not permit the party to conceal their identity from the court, an appeal judge has ruled.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 20th September 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The Disability Ground in Abortion Law, and the Negative ‘Message’ it is Sending: R (Crowter) v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care – Oxford Human Rights Hub

Posted September 21st, 2023 in abortion, disabled persons, human rights, news by sally

‘A recent decision of the Court of Appeal involved a very interesting legal challenge based on an alleged negative “message” in the law. It raises important questions about the law on disability-selective abortion, but also more broadly on the possibility of challenges to the law based on any allegedly negative message.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 21st September 2023

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

Expert evidence – the importance of independence – Mills & Reeve

‘The rules on expert witnesses in the courts of England and Wales are governed by Part 35 of the Civil Procedure Rules. One of the fundamental principles when it comes to expert evidence is that of independence.’

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Mills & Reeve, 19th September 2023

Source: www.mills-reeve.com

Olly Stephens: Murdered boy’s dad says new law a ‘game-changer’ – BBC News

Posted September 21st, 2023 in bereavement, bills, consumer protection, internet, murder, news by sally

‘The father of a 13-year-old murdered by two schoolboys has welcomed a new law to make social media firms more responsible for users’ safety.’

Full Story

BBC News, 21st September 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Use of x-rays in asylum age assessments “inaccurate” and “unethical”, experts warn – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 21st, 2023 in asylum, children, consent, immigration, medical treatment, news, x-rays by sally

‘Medical experts have criticised the use of x-rays to determine the age of lone migrant children and young people seeking asylum in the UK.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 20th September 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

New Acts – legislation.gov.uk

Posted September 21st, 2023 in legislation by tracey

2023 c. 49 – Firearms Act 2023

2023 c. 48 – Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees Act 2023

2023 c. 47 – Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act 2023

2023 c. 45 – Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023

2023 c. 44 – Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Act 2023

2023 c. 42 – Powers of Attorney Act 2023

2023 c. 40 – Lifelong Learning (Higher Education Fee Limits) Act 2023

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk