Month: June 2007

Statute Law Revision: Rating repeal proposals – Law Commission

Posted June 27th, 2007 in consultations, legislation, rates, statute law revision by sally

“The thirty Acts proposed for repeal in this consultation date mostly from the 18th and 19th centuries and concern local taxation in England at that time. The early rating system was closely linked with the system of providing relief for the poor in each parish. Indeed the English poor-law system remained parish-based until 1930. Changes in the mid-20th century, including the establishment of the welfare state, have made these Acts obsolete.”

Consultation paper

Law Commission, 27th June 2007

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted June 27th, 2007 in legislation by sally

The Veterinary Surgery (Artificial Insemination) (Amendment) Order 2007

The Public Guardian Board Regulations 2007

The Digital Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Act 2007 (Prescription of Information) Order 2007

The NHS Foundation Trusts (Trust Funds: Appointment of Trustees) Order 2007

The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Reviews of Sentencing) (Consequential and Supplementary Provisions) Order 2007

The Keighley College (Dissolution) Order 2007

The Cricklade College, Andover (Dissolution) Order 2007

The Farnham College (Dissolution) Order 2007

The Home Loss Payments (Prescribed Amounts) (England) Regulations 2007

The North Trafford College of Further Education (Dissolution) Order 2007

The Skelmersdale College (Dissolution) Order 2007

The Spelthorne College, Ashford, Middlesex (Dissolution) Order 2007

The Lord Chancellor (Modification of Functions) Order 2007

The Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2007

The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3) Regulations 2007

The Primary Care Trusts (Establishment and Dissolution) (England) Amendment (No.2) Order 2007

The REACH (Appointment of Competent Authorities) Regulations 2007

The Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2007

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 27th, 2007 in bills, criminal justice, immigration, press releases by sally

“Tougher offences to tackle crime and strong, new measures to cut re-offending were announced today (26 June) by David Hanson MP, Minister of Justice and Baroness Scotland, Home Office Minister for Crime Reduction.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice press release, 26th June 2007

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

MPs slam Government FOI proposals – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 27th, 2007 in freedom of information, news by sally

“The Government’s plans to limit requests under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act should be blocked, according to a parliamentary committee. It also said that watchdog the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) should be better funded.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 27th June 2007

Source: www.out-law.com

Legal Opinion: Introduction of no-smoking law raises prospect of litigation – The Independent

Posted June 27th, 2007 in smoking, special report by sally

“Saturday will be the last day for smoking in an enclosed public space. Robert Verkaik, Law Editor, considers the possibility of legal actions against the ban.”

Full story

The Independent, 27th June 2007

Source: www.independent.co.uk

More prisoners to be freed early – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 27th, 2007 in criminal justice, news, sentencing by sally

“Thousands more convicts are to spend less time in jail as a result of law and order measures published by the Government yesterday.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 27th June 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Judicial Appointments Commission: what does its first report card say? – The Times

Posted June 27th, 2007 in judicial appointments commission, news by sally

“Progress has been made in the first year, but overall the verdict is ‘improving – but can do better’.”

Full story

The Times, 25th June 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Paternity declaration fines – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 27th, 2007 in birth certificates, news, paternity by sally

“Unmarried fathers who admit paternity of a child but refuse to register on the birth certificate could be fined under new proposals.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 27th June 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

CSA criticised for naming parents on website – The Guardian

Posted June 27th, 2007 in child support, news by sally

“The Child Support Agency today ‘named and shamed’ 40 parents who were successfully prosecuted for refusing to take financial responsibility for their children.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th June 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Who will be in Gordon Brown’s legal team? – The Times

Posted June 27th, 2007 in attorney general, lord chancellor, special report by sally

“The Times Legal Editor looks at who has the inside running to become Attorney-General and Lord Chancellor under the new Prime Minister.”

Full story

The Times, 27th June 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Justice reforms focus on prostitution and jail numbers – The Guardian

Posted June 27th, 2007 in criminal justice, news, prostitution by sally

“After nearly 200 years the stigmatising legal term “common prostitute” which dates back to the 1824 Vagrancy Act is to be removed from the statute book, under a package of criminal justice reforms unveiled yesterday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 27th June 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Inquiry into torture of Iraqis by British troops -The Times

Posted June 27th, 2007 in armed forces, Iraq, news, torture by sally

“The Attorney-General yesterday demanded an inquiry into the use of torture by British soldiers in Iraq in 2003 which led to the death in custody of Baha Musa, an Iraqi civilian arrested during an arms search. Lord Goldsmith, QC, said it was “inexplicable” that banned techniques were being used when soldiers and officers must have realised they breached the Geneva Conventions.”

Full story

The Times, 27th June 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Regina (Baiai and Others) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department – Times Law Reports

Posted June 26th, 2007 in immigration, law reports, marriage by sally

Migrants’ marriage rule bias is disproportionate

Regina (Baiai and Others) v Secretary of State for the Home Department

Court of Appeal

“The statutory scheme requiring permission by the Home Office for marriage by people subject to immigration control or those who had entered the UK illegally contravened articles 12 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights guaranteeing the right to marry and prohibiting discrimination for nationality or religion.”

The Times, 26th June 2007

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.

Polarpark Enterprises Inc v. Allason – Times Law Reports

Posted June 26th, 2007 in landlord & tenant, law reports by sally

Obligation gives tenant protection

Polarpark Enterprises Inc v. Allason

Chancery Division

“A licensee who occupied a property under a trust deed, which contained an obligation to repair and insure the property, had a protected licence.”

The Times, 26th June 2007

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 (Governor of Wandsworth Prison) v. Kinderis and Others – Times Law Reports

Posted June 26th, 2007 in extradition, law reports, prisons by sally

Domestic prison duty postponed

Regina (Governor of Wandsworth Prison) v. Kinderis and Others

Queen’s Bench Divisional Court

“Where a prisoner was remanded in custody charged with offences in England and consented to extradition under a European arrest warrant, the prison governor should keep him in custody pending extradition and any duty to deliver him to the domestic crown court was postponed.”

The Times, 26th June 2007

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.

Major investment in new courts for England and Wales – Her Majesty’s Court Service

Posted June 26th, 2007 in courts, press releases by sally

“A major investment of £400 million to include building six new major courts has been announced today by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Lord Falconer.”

Announcement (Word document)

Her Majesty’s Court Service, 25th June 2007

Source: www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk

Old Square race case sees Appeal Court consider two-tier system – The Lawyer

Posted June 26th, 2007 in news, race discrimination by sally

“Old Square Chambers is heading to the Court of Appeal in a case that could see a two-tier approach to the enforcement of claims in respect of the Race Relations Act 1976.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 25th June 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Highest paid barristers and solicitors firms in legal aid 2005/06 – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 26th, 2007 in barristers, law firms, legal aid, news, remuneration by sally

“A breakdown of the ten highest paid criminal and civil barristers and solicitor firms from the criminal defence service and the community legal service. The information covers 2005 and 2006. A section on frequently asked questions about legal aid fees is also included in the document.”

Highest paid barristers and solicitors firms in legal aid 2005/06 (PDF)

Ministry of Justice, 25th June 2007

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

College of Law strikes key deal with 30 firms – The Lawyer

Posted June 26th, 2007 in law firms, legal education, news by sally

“The College of Law’s plan to dominate legal education has moved up a gear after it struck a major deal with 30 law firms to provide a pioneering training programme for its junior corporate lawyers.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 25th June 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

NICE challenged over Alzheimer’s drugs – The Times

Posted June 26th, 2007 in medicines, news by sally

“The government’s medicines watchdog was accused today of “irrationally and unlawfully” withholding drugs which could help thousands of people suffering from early-stage dementia.”

Full story

The Times, 25th June 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk