The Liberal Democrats have called for a free vote in Parliament on the issue of assisted dying. At their Autumn Conference on 24 September delegates passed a policy motion, Medically Assisted Dying. The motion reaffirms the party's support for a "debate and free vote in Parliament" on legislation allowing medically assisted dying "in limited circumstances and with extensive safeguards".
With Government committed to reducing the regulatory burdens on business in order to help economic growth, the Red Tape Challenge process is scrutinising UK legislation to see where there may be scope for amendments or repeals to reduce regulatory burdens.
Part of this exercise has included a proposal to amend the Estate Agents Act. The RICS – which operates a comprehensive expert witness service for property disputes – was among those asked by the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) for its views on the proposal to amend the legislation.
The Supreme Court has held that changes to the Immigration Rules for non-European Economic Area (non-EEA) nationals applying to enter or remain in the UK on the family migration route – which were supposed to come into force on 9 July – are unlawful, as were all the rule changes made since 2008. The Home office was forced to take emergency action to present its rules on the so-called 'points-based system' – applied since 2008 – to the House of Lords, as the Commons was already in recess.
The proposed changes included introducing a new minimum income threshold of £18,600 for sponsoring the settlement in the UK of a spouse or partner, or fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner of non-European Economic Area (EEA) nationality, with a higher threshold for any children also sponsored of £22,400 for one child and an additional £2,400 for each further child. They would also have abolished immediate settlement for the migrant spouses and partner where a couple have been living together overseas for at least four years, and requiring them to complete a five year probationary period.
Experts in the field of child and elder abuse have hailed new legislation which means people accused of seriously abusing children or vulnerable adults can no longer escape justice by staying silent or blaming someone else.
The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims (Amendment) Act 2012 came into effect on 2 July and extends the offence of causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable adult to causing or allowing serious physical harm. Those found guilty face up to 10 years in prison.
The passing of the legislation is unusual in that it began as a Private Member's Bill introduced by Sir Paul Beresford (pictured), Conservative MP for Mole Valley, which the Government backed to ensure it became law.
The Government's 'Red Tape Challenge' – the initiative aimed at simplifying regulation, reducing bureaucracy and remove unnecessary red tape for businesses has turned its sights towards the legal services sector, a sector many see as bound up with arcane regulation and downright obfuscation.
Launching the latest stage in the initiative, Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly announced plans to scrutinise, simplify or scrap more than 150 regulations that affect legal services. Consumers and businesses have been invited to comment on which regulations should be scrapped, improved or kept. Regulations will be scrapped unless there is a solid justification for why they should stay.
