Calling time on Scandalising the Court – Law Commission
“The Law Commission is recommending that the offence of scandalising the court should be abolished and not replaced.”
Law Commission, 19th December 2012
Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk
Category: consultations
Fee remissions in the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) – Ministry of Justice
“The consultation is aimed at anyone who has an interest in immigration, asylum and nationality matters or who would be affected by the removal of legal aid for most non-detention immigration appeals when the relevant provisions of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 comes into force in April 2013.”
Ministry of Justice, 18th December 2012
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Internet porn: Automatic block rejected – BBC News
“Ministers have rejected plans to automatically block internet access to pornography on all computers, saying the move is not widely supported.”
BBC News, 15th December 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Quicker, costlier and less appealing: plans for Judicial Review reform revealed – UK Human Rights Blog
“The Government has revealed its plans to reform Judicial Review, and has opened a public consultation which closes on 24 January 2013.”
UK Human Rights Blog, 13th December 2012
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
Judicial Review: proposals for reform – Ministry of Justice
“The Government is seeking views on a package of measures to stem the growth in applications for judicial reviews. The measures aim to tackle the burden that this growth has placed on stretched public services whilst protecting access to justice and the rule of law. The engagement exercise seeks views on proposals in three key areas; reducing the time limits for bringing a judicial review relating to procurement or planning, bringing them into line with the appeal timetable which already applies to those cases.”
Ministry of Justice, 13th December 2012
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Consultation on proposed changes to the Patents Act 1977 – Intellectual Property Office
“The Review of Intellectual Property and Growth published by Professor Hargreaves in 2011 recognised the important role the UK’s patent system plays in supporting innovation and economic growth. However, the review highlighted the need for the IP framework to be more adaptable and recognised a need for change in some aspects of the way the IP system operates. Such changes will ensure the IP system continues to encourage innovation and support those UK businesses which recognise the competitive advantage that can be gained through intellectual property (‘IP’) rights.”
Consultation (PDF)
Intellectual Property Office, December 2012
Source: www.ipo.gov.uk
Whiplash crackdown – Ministry of Justice
“New measures to bring down the number and cost of whiplash claims, including speculative and fraudulent applications has been announced today [11th December].”
Ministry of Justice, 11th December 2012
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Introduction of tax general anti abuse rule (GAAR) delayed for several months, says Treasury – OUT-LAW.com
“The general anti abuse rule (GAAR) will come into force from royal assent to the Finance Bill 2013 and not from 1 April 2013 as originally proposed, according to draft legislation for the Finance Bill 2013 published today.”
OUT-LAW.com, 11th December 2012
Source: www.out-law.com
Reducing the number and cost of whiplash claims – Ministry of Justice
“The Government is committed to finding ways of tackling fraudulent and exaggerated whiplash claims, whilst ensuring that people who have suffered a genuine neck injury should continue to be able to get appropriate compensation. However, increases in claims for compensation relating to whiplash injuries are having a significant impact on the motor insurance premiums paid by individuals, families and businesses.”
Ministry of Justice, 11th December 2012
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Reforming Electoral Law in the UK – Law Commission
“The Law Commission has identified the areas of UK electoral law that will come under scrutiny in a forthcoming review. The review, which will be conducted jointly with the Scottish Law Commission and the Northern Ireland Law Commission, aims to reform the law relating to elections and referendums across the UK.”
Law Commission, 11th December 2012
Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk
Whiplash proposals target fraudulent claims with increase in RTA small claims limit to £5,000 – Litigation Futures
“The government will today finally unveil its long-awaited consultation on increasing the small claims limit for road traffic personal injury cases from £1,000 to £5,000, a move that would decimate the workload of many law firms.”
Litigation Futures, 11th December 2012
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
Consultation on Repeal of sections 63 to 67 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974: Abolishing Noise Abatement Zones – Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
“This consultation seeks views on the Repeal of sections 63 to 67 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 in relation to England and Wales, which would abolish all existing Noise Abatement Zones and prevent new ones being established.”
Consultation (PDF)
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, December 2012
Source: www.defra.gov.uk
LSB responds to consultation by revising plans for regulation of special bodies – Legal Services Board
“Special bodies – including not-for profit agencies and community interest companies –
providing reserved legal activities will not become licensed under the Legal Services Act 2007
until at least April 2015, the LSB confirms today [5 December].”
Full story (PDF)
Legal Services Board, 5th December 2012
Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk
LIBOR administrators will be required to corroborate submissions under FSA proposals – OUT-LAW.com
“Clear, unambiguous rules on the administration of, and submitting to, the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and other benchmarks will be included in the regulatory handbook, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has said.”
OUT-LAW.com, 6th December 2012
Source: www.out-law.com
Prison sentences: How do judges decide them? – BBC News
“Changes are in the pipeline for the sentencing of sex offenders. But what principles govern how long a criminal is jailed for?”
BBC News, 6th December 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Voluntary sector should be able to charge – LSB – Law Society’s Gazette
“Not-for-profit groups should be allowed to charge for provision of legal services, the Legal Services Board has said.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 6th December 2012
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Jail sex offenders for longer, proposes review of sentencing guidelines – The Guardian
“Rapists and sex attackers should be given longer prison terms, the Sentencing Council recommends, as courts take into account gang attacks and new technologies exploited by offenders.”
The Guardian, 6th December 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Sexual Offences Guidelines Consultations – Ministry of Justice
Sexual Offences Guideline: Child sex offences committed by young offenders under the age of 18
Sexual Offences Guideline: Exploitation offences
Sexual Offences Guideline: Indecent images of children
Sexual Offences Guideline: Offences against those with a mental disorder
Sexual Offences Guideline: Offences where the victim is a child
Sexual Offences Guideline: Other sexual offences
Sexual offences guideline: Rape and assault offences
Ministry of Justice, 6th December 2012
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Care home regulation criticised by Norman Lamb – BBC News
“Regulation of the care sector is not fit for purpose, care minister Norman Lamb has said as he unveiled proposals on English care homes for consultation.”
BBC News, 1st December 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
