Court users “must buy in to reforms”, says MoJ as it pledges vulnerable will not be left behind

‘The Ministry of Justice’s top civil servant has told MPs that the government’s massive court reform programme will have failed if it does not carry the support of those who use the courts.’

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Legal Futures, 7th June 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

TSB investigated over IT meltdown – BBC News

‘A computer failure at TSB that caused up to 1.9 million people to lose access to online banking services is being investigated by the financial regulator.’

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BBC news, 6th June 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

John Bercow will not be investigated over ‘stupid woman’ row – The Guardian

‘John Bercow, the Speaker of the House of Commons, will not be investigated by the standards watchdog over allegations that he described the cabinet minister Andrea Leadsom as a “stupid woman”.’

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The Guardian, 4th June 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Surrogacy and parental orders for single parents – the ‘non-urgent’ road to change – Family Law

‘Since May 2016, prospective single applicants for parental orders for surrogate children have waited with bated breath for the change in the law that permits them to make their applications, independent of their relationship status. At the end of last year, it was announced that a remedial order to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (HFEA 2008) had been placed before Parliament. However, five months have now passed and the question remains whether we are any closer to change.’

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Family Law, 31st May 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

UK inquiry opened into carbon capture, usage and storage – OUT-LAW.com

‘A UK parliamentary committee is to scrutinise how the government plans to reduce emissions and meet its climate change targets should the cost of using carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) solutions not fall.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 31st May 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Government U-turn over anti-terror law used to deport migrants – The Guardian

Posted May 30th, 2018 in deportation, immigration, news, select committees, terrorism by sally

‘The government has agreed to stop deporting people under an immigration rule designed to tackle terrorism and those judged to be a threat to national security pending a review, after the Guardian highlighted numerous cases in which the power was being misused.’

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The Guardian, 29th May 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government needs to act on key Chilcot inquiry finding, committee warns – The Guardian

Posted May 30th, 2018 in constitutional history, inquiries, Iraq, news, reports, select committees by sally

‘MPs have called for tougher safeguards to be introduced to prevent a prime minister taking the country to war without adequate cabinet consultation.’

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The Guardian, 29th May 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Home Office criticised for failures in reforms to criminal records vetting – The Guardian

‘The Home Office has been accused of running a “masterclass in incompetence” over its attempts to improve the criminal records checking scheme.’

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The Guardian, 25th May 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police mugshot deletion scheme criticised for lack of transparency – BBC News

Posted May 25th, 2018 in criminal records, facial mapping, news, police, select committees by sally

‘Thousands of innocent people who have been questioned by police may not know they can have their mugshots deleted, a Commons report has warned.’

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BBC News, 25th May 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bar Council backs Justice Committee concerns over increasing small claims limit – The Bar Council

Posted May 18th, 2018 in personal injuries, press releases, select committees, small claims by tracey

‘Yesterday’s report from the Justice Select Committee highlighted concerns over plans to increase the small claims limit to £5,000 which, according to the Bar Council, could undermine access to justice for those injured in accidents.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 18th May 2018

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

John Bercow: Probe into Commons Speaker bullying claims blocked – The Independent

‘A probe into allegations John Bercow bullied members of staff has been blocked by MPs. The Commons Standards Committee voted three-two against allowing Parliament’s watchdog to investigate the claims.’

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The Independent, 17th May 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

MPs to examine Dangerous Dogs Act – BBC News

Posted May 11th, 2018 in dogs, news, select committees by sally

‘MPs are to investigate the effectiveness of the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act amid figures suggesting there has been an increase in attacks.’

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BBC News, 11th May 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ministry of Justice “a little frustrated” by legal aid strike as CBA recommends ‘no returns’ policy – Legal Futures

‘David Gauke, the justice secretary and Lord Chancellor, has admitted that the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is feeling “a little frustrated” by the direct action taken by criminal law barristers over legal aid fees.’

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Legal Futures, 10th May 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Civil Liability Bill: Whiplash damages and definition revealed – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 9th, 2018 in bills, damages, news, personal injuries, road traffic, select committees by tracey

‘Legislators have outlined the tariffs that are likely to apply to whiplash injuries if a bill for fixed figures is passed. In a draft order of the Civil Liability Bill laid before parliament today, the total damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity payable for injuries lasting less than three months is restricted to £225. That figure rises to £450 for injuries up to six months, and to £765 where the injuries last nine months.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 8th May 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Modern slavery strategy ‘yet to result in coherent action’, MPs find – The Independent

‘Modern slavery is not fully understood by the government and it has no idea if its crackdown is working, MPs have said, while warning that Brexit could worsen the situation.
The Public Accounts Committee concluded that “good intentions have yet to result in coherent action” against the crimes, with no measure of success for a nationwide strategy and inconsistency between regional police forces.’

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The Independent, 2nd May 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Can we build AI that doesn’t turn on us? Is it already too late? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted April 19th, 2018 in artificial intelligence, news, reports, select committees by sally

‘A report from the UK House of Lords Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence has made a number of recommendations for the UK’s approach to the rise of algorithms. The report ‘AI in the UK: ready, willing and able?’ suggests the creation of a cross-sector AI Code to help mitigate the risks of AI outstripping human intelligence.’

Full Story

UK Human Rights Blog, 18th April 2018

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Ethics expert calls on SRA to take tougher approach to NDAs – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) needs to take a tougher approach to non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), a leading legal ethics expert has told MPs.’

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Legal Futures, 19th April 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

No call for evidence in AG’s disclosure review – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 27th, 2018 in attorney general, consultations, disclosure, news, select committees by tracey

‘The day before MPs begin hearing evidence on challenges around the disclosure of evidence in criminal cases, the Attorney General’s Office has announced it will not be issuing a call for evidence to inform its wider review.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 26th March 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Parliament warned of ‘threat to profession’s independence’ over legal aid funding decisions – Legal Futures

Posted March 16th, 2018 in human rights, legal aid, legal profession, news, select committees by tracey

‘There is a “worrying trend” towards potential government interference in decisions over the grant of legal aid that threaten the independence of the profession, a leading solicitor warned parliamentarians this week.’

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Legal Futures, 16th March 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Ofsted head seeks more powers to inspect unregistered schools – The Guardian

Posted March 8th, 2018 in education, news, select committees by tracey

‘The head of the schools watchdog, Ofsted, has called for greater oversight of children who are being educated outside mainstream schools, describing the system in England as “unusually permissive”.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 8th March 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com