The 2015-16 pension changes explained in 10 questions – BBC News

Posted April 2nd, 2015 in news, pensions by sally

‘What the government calls “pension freedoms” will be in place from Easter Monday. But anyone nearing retirement would do well to note the drawbacks, as well as the advantages.’

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BBC News, 2nd April 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The Supreme Court on statelessness, EU citizenship and proportionality – UK Human Rights Blog

‘On first glance, this was not a judgment about human rights. It concerned the definition of statelessness under article 1(1) of the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, and raised issues of competence and jurisdiction in relation to EU citizenship. Its specific interest for human rights lawyers lies primarily in the observations about the principle of proportionality; and in where the case, which most certainly does raise human rights issues, is likely to go next.

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UK Human Rights Blog, 31st March 2015

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Yarl’s Wood migrant ‘can sue government over prescribed drug’ – BBC News

‘A migrant who claims her psychosis was triggered by medication given to her at Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre is to be allowed to sue the government.’

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BBC News, 1st April 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Erol Incedal trial evidence must remain secret, judge rules – The Guardian

Posted April 2nd, 2015 in evidence, media, news, private hearings, reporting restrictions, terrorism by sally

‘The bulk of the evidence in the UK’s first terror trial held mostly behind closed doors will remain secret forever, a judge has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 1st April 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 – legislation.gov.uk

Posted April 1st, 2015 in clergy, legislation, peerages & dignities, women by sally

Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 published

Full text of Act

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

The Care Act 2014: Eligibility Criteria, Duties and Powers in Respect of Adults in Need of Care and Support – Doughty Street Chambers

‘This section deals with the eligibility criteria and the powers and duties in respect of adults in need of ‘care and support’. The new powers and duties in relation to those who provide adults with care are dealt with separately.’

Full story (PDF)

Doughty Street Chambers, March 2015

Source: www.doughtystreet.co.uk

The Care Act 2014: The Duty to Assess Need – Doughty Street Chambers

‘This paper considers the duties to undertake assessments of care needs in the Care
Act 2014 (“the Act”), including the primary duty under section 9, the duty to assess
carers under section 10; the transition assessment duties and the out of area
transfer duties under sections 58 and 37 respectively.’

Full story (PDF)

Doughty Street Chambers, March 2015

Source: www.doughtystreet.co.uk

Facebook ‘tracks all visitors, breaching EU law’ – The Guardian

Posted April 1st, 2015 in computer programs, consent, data protection, EC law, internet, news, privacy by sally

‘Facebook tracks the web browsing of everyone who visits a page on its site even if the user does not have an account or has explicitly opted out of tracking in the EU, extensive research commissioned by the Belgian data protection agency has revealed.’

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The Guardian, 31st March 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

High Court judge gives procurement litigants reprieve on claim form timescales – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 1st, 2015 in interpretation, local government, news, public procurement, time limits by sally

‘Companies that take issue with the way public bodies tender for or award contracts have up to seven days to serve a claim form after it has been issued, a High Court judge has confirmed.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 27th March 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

Armed Forces (Service Complaints and Financial Assistance) Act 2015 – legislation.gov.uk

Posted April 1st, 2015 in armed forces, complaints, financial provision, legislation by sally

Armed Forces (Service Complaints and Financial Assistance) Act 2015 published

Full text of Act

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Deregulation Act 2015 – legislation.gov.uk

Posted April 1st, 2015 in legislation, repeals by sally

Deregulation Act 2015 published

Full text of Act

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Corporation Tax (Northern Ireland) Act 2015 – legislation.gov.uk

Posted April 1st, 2015 in corporation tax, legislation, Northern Ireland by sally

Corporation Tax (Northern Ireland) Act 2015 published

Full text of Act

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Local Government (Review of Decisions) Act 2015 – legislation.gov.uk

Posted April 1st, 2015 in legislation, local government by sally

Local Government (Review of Decisions) Act 2015 published

Full text of Act

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Control of Horses Act 2015 – legislation.gov.uk

Posted April 1st, 2015 in animals, legislation by sally

Control of Horses Act 2015 published

Full text of Act

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Stranded Spouses and Immigration Control – Family Law Week

‘Sulema Jahangir, solicitor with Dawson Cornwell, explains the plight of wives and mothers who are stranded in foreign countries, often separated from their children, and unable to return to England because of immigration restrictions.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 31st March 2015

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

High Court finds council policy on disability living allowance and DHPs “unlawful” – Local Government Lawyer

‘ local authority’s policy of taking into account the care component of disability living allowance when assessing the amount of a discretionary house payment (DHPs) was unlawful, a High Court judge has ruled.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 31st March 2015

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Untangling the spider’s web: Evans at the Supreme Court – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

‘On Friday, 27th March, the Supreme Court handed down a decision which will be as much of interest to public lawyers as information rights practitioners alike. Evans, a journalist for the Guardian newspaper utilised the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 to seek the disclosure of letters sent by Prince Charles to seven government departments between September 2004 and March 2005. The departments refused to disclose the letters (so-called “black spider” memos on account of the Prince’s handwriting) on the basis that they were exempt from doing so. In their view the letters represented private correspondence which effectively allowed the Prince to prepare for “kingship.” Evans subsequently complained to the Information Commissioner who upheld the refusal before appealing to the Information Tribunal. The Tribunal held that many of the letters should be disclosed as they constituted “advocacy correspondence.”’

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 31st March 2015

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

The Cat’s Out of the Bag: legal advice privilege and the risks of being caught with a divorce lawyer – Family Law Week

‘Samuel Littlejohns, pupil at 1 Hare Court, examines whether the very fact that a party consulted a lawyer at a given time is privileged information, and the practical consequences of this for practitioners.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 27th March 2015

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

New PD rights and deemed discharge of planning conditions to be introduced in April – OUT-LAW.com

‘Several new types of existing buildings will be able to be converted into homes without full planning permission from 15 April under UK planning reforms that will also introduce the “deemed discharge” of certain planning conditions.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 31st March 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

Nurses who don’t report poor care or who cover up mistakes now face being struck off – The Independent

Posted April 1st, 2015 in codes of practice, hospitals, news, nurses, standards, whistleblowers by sally

‘Nurses could be struck off if they fail to escalate concerns about poor care or hide the truth about mistakes, under new rules unveiled by the profession’s governing body.’

Full story

The Independent, 31st March 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk