Temporary operating hours: the straw that will break the camel s back | News lawgazette.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from lawgazette.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
By Monidipa Fouzder2021-05-27T08:57:00+01:00
An influential group of MPs has urged the government to ensure – within the next four months – equality of arms between bereaved families and the state at inquests.
In a hard-hitting report published today, the Commons justice select committee says bereaved people should not be put through the ‘difficult and time consuming’ process of trying to secure legal aid where public authorities are legally represented at public expense. It called on Robert Buckland’s department to introduce non-means tested legal aid for families by 1 October.
The committee also said it was unacceptable that bereaved families are not entitled to automatic non-means tested legal aid at inquests into multiple deaths following a public disaster, pointing out that such inquests are complex. An equality of arms was a fundamental requirement to enable families to participate fully.
By Monidipa Fouzder2021-05-13T09:52:00+01:00
The Ministry of Justice has been urged not to bring court-assessed civil legal aid bills in-house amid impartiality and transparency concerns as well as the impact on an already-dwindling supplier base.
Robert Buckland’s department has been consulting on transferring the assessment of most civil and family legal aid costs bills from the courts to the Legal Aid Agency.
The Law Society said its members had serious concerns about the agency’s assessment process. ‘First and foremost is the concern about lack of impartiality when the assessor is also the paying party, unlike the courts which have no financial interest in the outcome of the assessment. This concern is heightened by a perceived culture of refusal on the part of the LAA,’ it said.
By Gazette newsdesk2021-05-11T11:50:00+01:00
Legislation to restore the balance of power between the executive, legislature and the courts was announced in the Queen s speech today - ahead of the outcome of the government s consultation and the independent review into the working of the Human Rights Act. A Judicial Review Bill is among 31 pieces of legislation to be presented by the government in the new parliamentary session.
As widely trailed, the programme includes a new planning bill. In what is expected to be the biggest shake-up of the planning system in decades local authorities would be forced to set new zones for housing. Meanwhile a Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill would end the practice of ground rents for new leasehold properties.
MPs have limited confidence in MoJ s plans to clear court backlog lawgazette.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from lawgazette.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.