National Grid handed record £41.6m fine for ‘restrictive’ contracts – The Times

Posted February 26th, 2008 in competition, energy, fines, news by sally

“National Grid, the gas and power infrastructure company, has been fined a record £41.6 million by Ofgem, the energy market watchdog, for restricting competition in the market for domestic gas meters.”

Full story

The Times, 26th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted February 26th, 2008 in legislation by sally

The Social Security (Claims and Payments) Amendment Regulations 2008

The Healthy Start Scheme and Welfare Food (Amendment) Regulations 2008

The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 (Amendment of Schedule 1) Order 2008

The Community Investment Tax Relief (Accreditation of Community Development Finance Institutions) (Amendment) Regulations 2008

The Environmental Noise (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008

The Companies (Summary Financial Statement) Regulations 2008

The Companies (Revision of Defective Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008

The Borough of Barrow-in-Furness (Electoral Changes) Order 2008

The Borough of Basingstoke and Deane (Electoral Changes) Order 2008

The Borough of Welwyn Hatfield (Electoral Changes) Order 2008

The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 (Commencement No.1) Order 2008

The Department for Transport (Driver Licensing and Vehicle Registration Fees) (Amendment) Order 2008

The Companies Act 2006 (Amendment) (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008

The Small Companies and Groups (Accounts and Directors’ Report) Regulations 2008

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Regina (Buglife – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust) v Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corpn – WLR Daily

Posted February 26th, 2008 in animals, environmental protection, law reports, planning by sally

Regina (Buglife – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust) v Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corpn; WLR (D) 59

“In considering the tension between the purposes of s136 of the Local Government Planning and Land Act 1980 (bringing land into effective use) and s40 of the Natural Environment Act 2000 (conserving biodiversity) a benevolent construction should be given to planning decisions and, where a claimant contended that a decision was procedurally flawed, it was right to look behind the words used and see what had in substance been decided.”

WLR Daily, 25th February 2008

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Socimer International Bank Ltd (in liquidation) v Standard Bank London Ltd – WLR Daily

Posted February 26th, 2008 in banking, contracts, debts, law reports, valuation by sally

Socimer International Bank Ltd (in liquidation) v Standard Bank London Ltd [2008] EWCA Civ 116; WLR (D) 58

“Where a commercial agreement obliged a creditor bank to determine the value of the assets of the defaulting debtor bank at the date of termination, the creditor bank’s obligation was to carry out an honest, but otherwise subjective valuation.”

WLR Daily, 25th February 2008

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

“It’s Your Call” – Bar Council Launches Guide for Aspiring Barristers – The Bar Council

Posted February 26th, 2008 in barristers, legal education, press releases by sally

“The Bar Council has published a new booklet explaining how to become a part of the profession. ‘It’s your call’, produced in the wake of Lord Neuberger’s Entry to the Bar Working Party Report into access to the profession, will be an invaluable tool for school, university and Bar students looking to find out more about the Bar.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 25th February 2008

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

House of Lords Judgments: What’s new?

Posted February 26th, 2008 in law reports by sally

Scottish & Newcastle International Limited (Respondents) v Othon Ghalanos Limited (a company incorporated in Cyprus) (Appellants) [2008] UKHL 11 (20 February 2008)

Reinwood Limited (Respondents) v L Brown & Sons Limited (Appellants) [2008] UKHL 12 (20 February 2008)

Source: www.parliament.uk

Foreigners face fines over ID cards – The Guardian

Posted February 26th, 2008 in identity cards, news by sally

“Foreign nationals living in Britain who boycott the introduction of the biometric identity card later this year could face losing their right to stay, under proposals published yesterday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Former SAS man condemns British role in torture tactics – The Guardian

Posted February 26th, 2008 in Afghanistan, armed forces, Iraq, news, torture by sally

“Hundreds of Iraqis and Afghans captured by British and American special forces were rendered to prisons where they faced torture, a former SAS soldier said yesterday. Ben Griffin said individuals detained by SAS troops in a joint UK-US special forces taskforce had ended up in interrogation centres in Iraq, including the notorious Abu Ghraib prison, and in Afghanistan, as well as Guantánamo Bay.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Home secretary makes concession in terror detention row – The Guardian

Posted February 26th, 2008 in detention, news, terrorism by sally

“Jacqui Smith is to offer a concession to backbench Labour MPs in an attempt to avoid a damaging rebellion against the government’s plans to detain terror suspects without charge for up to 42 days.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Airbus UK Ltd v Webb – Times Law Reports

Posted February 26th, 2008 in disciplinary procedures, dismissal, law reports, time limits, tribunals by sally

Airbus UK Ltd v Webb

Court of Appeal

“An employment tribunal was entitled to find that an employee’s dismissal for misconduct was fair, even though the employer, in his response to the reason for the dismissal, had taken account of previous similar misconduct which was the subject of an expired final warning.”

The Times, 26th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

Regina (SK) (Zimbabwe) v Secretary of State for the Home Department – Times Law Reports

Posted February 26th, 2008 in asylum, damages, deportation, false imprisonment, law reports by sally

Regina (SK) (Zimbabwe) v Secretary of State for the Home Department

Queen’s Bench Division

“A failed asylum-seeker awaiting deportation whose detention had not been properly reviewed had been deprived of safeguards prescribed by law and was entitled to damages for false imprisonment. His detention had been arbitrary and unlawful and contrary to the right to liberty enshrined in article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights.”

The Times, 26th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

Children need more space, less ultrasound, says Archbishop – The Guardian

Posted February 26th, 2008 in children, news by sally

“The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, today weighs into the debate over attitudes to young people in Britain, arguing that many loiter in groups or take refuge in computer games because adults make them feel insecure and unwelcome in public spaces. Far from intending to ‘menace’ others, youngsters congregate and hang around together in order ‘to feel secure’, Williams writes in the Guardian today. They fear not only aggressive gangs but ‘unfriendly adults’, he says, arguing that adult discouragement of games in public places intensifies the problem.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Racist force rejected Sikh officer 12 times – The Times

Posted February 26th, 2008 in news, police, race discrimination, religious discrimination, Sikhism by sally

“A Sikh policeman is set to receive a five-figure damages award for racial discrimination after a police force rejected a dozen applications from him to join.”

Full story

The Times, 26th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Double killer linked to Milly Dowler murder – The Guardian

Posted February 26th, 2008 in murder, news by sally

“A former nightclub bouncer found guilty of killing two young women and brutally attacking a third after stalking them in his car is the prime suspect in one of the most notorious unsolved murders of recent years, it emerged yesterday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Police email and mobile numbers for public – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 26th, 2008 in news, police by sally

“People will be able to telephone or email their local police officers directly, Gordon Brown has said.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 25th February 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Who is allowed to break in to your house? – The Guardian

Posted February 26th, 2008 in powers of entry, special report by sally

“It may sound suprising, but according to a 2007 report by Harry Snook, a barrister for the Centre for Policy Studies, there are 266 powers allowing officials to enter your home, and not all require a warrant. Those who can break in include firefighters, in an emergency, and police arresting a suspect. The Environment Agency can gain access without a warrant where there is danger of pollution or damage to public health.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The answer to extreme ideas is more discussion, not less . . . – The Times

Posted February 26th, 2008 in freedom of expression, special report, terrorism by sally

“Freedom of expression is valued because truth tends to be promoted, and error exposed, by allowing free debate.”

Full story

The Times, 26th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Written ministerial statement: Independent Review of the Forum for Preventing Deaths in Custody – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 26th, 2008 in police, press releases, prisons by sally

“Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Maria Eagle comments on the Independent Review of the Forum for Preventing Deaths in Custody. Copies of the review have been placed in the libraries of both Houses, the Vote Office and the Printed Paper Office.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 25th February 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Super-strength alcohol to be banned – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 26th, 2008 in alcohol abuse, news by sally

“Super-strength lager and cider could be cleared from the shelves under council plans to curb binge drinking across England and Wales.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 26th February 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Dentist in court fight over NHS reforms – The Independent

Posted February 26th, 2008 in contracts, dentists, news by sally

“An orthodontist is awaiting a judgment in the High Court on whether he can challenge his NHS dental services contract.”

Full story

The Independent, 26th February 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk