‘The court modernisation project ends this month with the “very disappointing” outcome of only 23% of civil cases being digital end to end, the Master of the Rolls told MPs this week.’
Legal Futures, 21st March 2025
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘Overcrowded prisons will face “total gridlock in a matter of months” and run out of space in 2026 despite emergency measures to release prisoners early, MPs have warned.’
The Independent, 14th March 2025
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘The state of the rule of law in the UK is to come under scrutiny by a high-powered committee of peers with members including a former lord chief justice. The House of Lords Constitution Committee today invited written contributions into an inquiry “seeking to understand the rule of law as a constitutional principle and what the state of the rule of law is in the UK.”‘
Law Society's Gazette, 11th March 2025
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘The Justice Committee has launched a new inquiry to examine the work of the County Court amid “persistent” concerns over capacity and resources.’
Local Government Lawyer, 23rd January 2025
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘MPs will look to close a potential anorexia loophole in the assisted dying bill that psychiatrists fear could result in people with severe eating disorders using it to end their lives. The Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney, who sits on the committee of MPs that will scrutinise the proposed law, is tabling an amendment to tighten the language around mental capacity.’
The Guardian, 21st January 2025
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The crucial committee which will scrutinise the assisted dying bill was told to be “civil and courteous” as members met for the first time ahead of expert evidence hearings at the end of January. The 23-member committee has a majority of MPs who are supportive of assisted dying, including two government ministers Stephen Kinnock and Sarah Sackman. The MPs, who will test the proposed legislation line by line, met on Tuesday to set out the timetable for the inquiry process.’
The Independent, 21st January 2025
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘The justice select committee has launched a new inquiry into the county court, “amid persistent concerns over capacity and resources”, after the previous one was cut short by the election.’
Legal Futures, 21st January 2025
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘The Joint Committee on Human Rights is undertaking scrutiny of the Mental Health Bill to assess its compatibility with international and domestic human rights standards. The Committee has a call for evidence closing on 24 January 2025.’
Mental Capacity Law and Policy, 12th January 2025
‘The government has been urged to reconsider resentencing thousands of prisoners trapped under abolished indefinite jail terms.’
The Independent, 29th November 2024
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘The Justice Committee has launched its first new inquiry of the Parliament, into reoffending in England and Wales. MPs on the newly appointed cross-party Committee, chaired by Labour MP Andy Slaughter, will examine the levels of reoffending in England and Wales.’
Each Other, 26th November 2024
Source: eachother.org.uk
‘The Lady Chief Justice yesterday complained to MPs about the government’s decisions to reduce the digitisation of civil justice and limit sitting days in the criminal courts.’
Legal Futures, 27th November 2024
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘Leading Tories Robert Jenrick and Oliver Dowden were on the committee that backed plans for the “rushed and misjudged” £15m purchase of an asbestos-ridden site for asylum accommodation, Whitehall’s spending watchdog has disclosed.’
The Guardian, 15th November 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Families are warning the government will have “blood on its hands” if it turns its back on 3,000 prisoners as Labour is set to reject a review of cruel indefinite jail terms, The Independent has learned.’
The Independent, 30th September 2024
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Over the past decade the House of Lords Constitution Committee has immersed itself in the principles, purposes and operation of devolution. Last week marked 10 years since the referendum on Scottish independence, and in that time the Committee has published multiple reports on the changing face of the territorial constitution, offering encouragement, detailed critique and practical recommendations. A number of these publications are cited in the introduction to its most recent report on The Governance of the Union: Consultation, Co-operation and Legislative Consent, which is published today. This report addresses the new system of intergovernmental relations introduced in 2022, the operation of the Sewel convention, the use of secondary legislation in devolved areas and plans by the new Labour Government for further devolution in England. Most notably, it recommends that a “principle of positive engagement” be added to the existing principles for intergovernmental relations, currently listed in The Review of Intergovernmental Relations policy document of January 2022.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 27th September 2024
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
‘On Monday, the House of Lords Statutory Inquiries Committee published its report on recommended reforms to the work of statutory inquiries. The report is published in the context of 18 public inquires taking place in the UK this year alone, and recent significant developments in the Grenfell Tower, Infected Blood, Post Office and Covid-19 Inquiries. Some of the report’s recommendations extend beyond statutory inquiries, to include major inquests.’
2 Hare Court, 19th September 2024
Source: www.2harecourt.com
‘Prisoners freed early to ease overcrowding in jails have not been fitted with electronic tags despite it being a condition of their release, prompting criticism from a parliamentary watchdog.’
The Guardian, 19th September 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Public inquiries should be shortened and the progress of their recommendations tracked, according to a House of Lords committee, which says a major overhaul is required to restore public confidence among victims and survivors.’
The Guardian, 16th September 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) needs more powers to prevent misconduct by law firms involved in strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPPs), peers have urged.’
Legal Futures, 15th May 2024
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘The county court has “borne the brunt” of the failure of the court modernisation programme to deliver, a former adviser to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said.’
Legal Futures, 8th May 2024
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘There is consensus in parliament that indeterminate sentences are unjust. So why is the government dragging its heels?’
The Guardian, 2nd May 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
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