Norfolk former headmaster admits sex abuse of eight boys – BBC News
‘The headmaster of a former Norfolk boarding school has been warned he could face a life sentence after admitting sex offences.’
BBC News, 7th March 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: news
Strasbourg on Mormons and their temples – UK Human Rights Blog
‘The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints v. the United Kingdom, ECHR, 4 March 2014. An apparently dry dispute about business rates on one of the Mormons’ temples in Preston has reached Strasbourg and raises interesting issues about indirect discrimination on religious grounds. The underlying question was whether the temple was a place of “public religious worship” and therefore exempt from rates.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 5th March 2014
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
Meg Russell: The Byles/Steel bill – unless amended – holds grave dangers for the Lords – UK Constitutional Law Association
‘On Friday 28 February Dan Byles’ Private Member’s Bill on Lords reform completed its Commons passage. It is now in the Lords, and will be sponsored by David Steel. The bill, which allows retirement from the Lords and expulsion of non-attendees and serious criminals, has been presented as a small, uncontroversial “housekeeping” measure. But as already argued in an earlier blog post, as currently drafted it would in fact introduce a very major change that would alter the Lords fundamentally, and in very undesirable ways.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 6th March 2014
Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org/blog
Watchdog seeks greater clarity over public sector suppliers’ FOI responsibilities – OUT-LAW.com
‘The contracts agreed between public sector bodies and their suppliers should be “more explicit” about which one of the organisations holds information for the purposes of compliance with freedom of information (FOI) rules, the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has said.’
OUT-LAW.com, 6th March 2014
Source: www.out-law.com
Abortion counselling – why statutory regulation is needed – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
‘Abortion is an emotive subject, regardless of political persuasion. It is one of the few issues that genuinely has the ability to polarise opinion, with neither side likely to be persuaded to the other’s point of view.’
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 6th March 2014
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
Grieve acts on judge’s plea over unrepresented defendants – Law Society’s Gazette
‘The attorney general’s office has confirmed that Dominic Grieve QC has appointed an amicus curiae to assist the court on legal argument expected to be made on behalf of defendants facing trial without representation in court.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 7th March 2014
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Asbestos cancer payments of up to £123,000 announced – BBC News
‘Victims of mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, are to receive an average of £123,000 compensation from a new fund.’
BBC News, 6th March 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Unacceptable’ failings and overcrowding found in NHS hospitals – Daily Telegraph
‘Unacceptably poor outpatient care, overcrowding and delays in Accident & Emergency units have been highlighted in the first national report following a new NHS inspection regime. Inspectors who visited a cross-section of 18 hospitals across the country found patients were waiting far too long in casualty units, and for appointments to see consultants and undergo tests.’
Daily Telegraph, 6th March 2014
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Anti-fracking campaigners challenge eviction attempt in court – The Guardian
‘Anti-fracking protesters who have been camping by a drill site in Greater Manchester since late October have appeared in court to challenge attempts to evict them.’
The Guardian, 6th March 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Met Police ‘Taser use on children rises sixfold’ – The Independent
‘The number of children tasered by the Metropolitan Police has risen almost sixfold over four years, according to campaigners. The Children’s Rights Alliance for England (CRAE) said Taser stun guns were used on 53 young people in 2012, signalling a sharp increase from just nine in 2008.’
The Independent, 6th March 2014
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Ministers to axe ‘bureaucratic’ rules on school dinners – Daily Telegraph
‘ Strict guidelines regulating the amount of sugar in school dinners have been scrapped just as health experts raise alarm over the deteriorating standard of people’s daily diet. The Government said nutritional guidance – setting out the levels of vitamins and minerals in lunches – would be axed because the rules are too complicated.’
Daily Telegraph, 6th March 2014
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Boy fed nine litres of goat milk a day cannot stay with his mother, court rules – The Independent
‘A boy who was fed nine litres of goat’s milk a day for six months will not be allowed to live with his mother, a senior family court judge has ruled.’
The Independent, 6th March 2014
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Network Rail apologises to families over level crossing deaths – BBC News
‘Network Rail has offered a “full and unreserved apology” to families bereaved by level crossing accidents. Chief executive Mark Carne apologised for “failings” in managing public safety and for “failing to deal sensitively” with affected families. Since 2010 the risk at level crossings had been reduced by a quarter, it said. The apology came as MPs published a report heavily critical of the way the rail infrastructure company had handled tragedies in the past.’
BBC News, 7th March 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Supreme Court decision provides much-needed clarity on VAT status of online tour operators, says expert – OUT-LAW.com
‘A travel company which marketed and arranged the sale of holiday accommodation to holidaymakers through its website was acting as an “agent” for the providers of that accommodation, and so did not have to account for VAT on those sales, the UK’s highest court has ruled.’
OUT-LAW.com, 5th March 2014
Source: www.out-law.com
SFO head defends agency’s perceived “lack of appetite” for prosecuting senior UK bankers – OUT-LAW.com
‘The head of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), which investigates and prosecutes serious and organised crime in England and Wales, has defended the agency’s record against UK banks and senior bankers in the aftermath of the financial crisis.’
OUT-LAW.com, 6th October 2014
Source: www.out-law.com
Precedent H to be amended in CPR update but no news yet on costs management limit – Litigation Futures
‘The statement of truth to be used in verifying a costs budget is to be changed, the latest update to the Civil Procedure Rules has revealed – but there is no word as yet about whether the level at which the costs management exemption kicks in will be increased.’
Litigation Futures, 6th March 2014
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
