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346 results

  • Independent Commission on Freedom of Information Call for Evidence

    The Independent Commission on Freedom of Information is an independent body established by the Government and sponsored by the Cabinet Office, to review the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and to consider whether there is an appropriate public interest balance between transparency, accountability and the need for sensitive information to have robust protection. The Independent Commission on Freedom of Information’s terms of reference require it to look carefully at the implications for... More
    Closed 20 November 2015

  • Proposal on the provision of court and tribunal estate in England and Wales

    This is a national consultation on the provision of the court and tribunal estate in England and Wales. HM Courts & Tribunals Service manages the operation of courts and tribunals through seven regions in England and Wales and the consultation includes annexes covering London, the Midlands, the North East, the North West, the South East, the South West and Wales. To provide users with an overview of all proposed change to the estate, the consultation also includes information on where... More
    Closed 8 October 2015

  • Amendments to Family Procedure Rules – Vulnerable Witnesses and Children

    In June 2014 the President of the Family Division established the Vulnerable Witnesses & Children Working Group to look at how a child can participate in family proceedings and the provision for the identification of vulnerable witnesses. The Working Group published its report in March 2015 after extensive consultation. The report included a set of draft model Rules and asked the Family Procedure Rule Committee to consider urgently whether, and if so how, the recommendation and draft Rules... More
    Closed 25 September 2015

  • Enhanced fees for divorce, possession claims and general applications in civil proceedings and consultation on further fees proposal

    This sets out the government response to the consultation on enhanced fees for possession claims and general applications in civil proceedings, and we are also seeking responses to further proposals for consultation. As the Lord Chancellor set out recently, we are seeking to modernise HMCTS and improve its efficiency. We need a properly funded service that protects access to justice and if we are to achieve that whilst reducing the cost of the courts and tribunals to the taxpayer we... More
    Closed 15 September 2015

  • Reform of Judicial Review: Proposals for the provision and use of financial information

    Judicial review is a process by which individuals, businesses and other affected parties can challenge the lawfulness of decisions or actions of public bodies, including those of Ministers, local authorities and those exercising public functions. It is a largely judge-developed process and can be characterised as the rule of law in action, providing a key mechanism for individuals to hold the Executive to account. More
    Closed 15 September 2015

  • A consultation on the merger of the Sussex (Northern) and Sussex (Western) Local Justice Areas

    The aim of this consultation is find views on proposals to merge the Local Justice Areas of Sussex (Northern) and Sussex (Western) into one new West Sussex Local Justice Area. This will give greater flexibility in managing the caseload across West Sussex whilst increasing the opportunities for magistrates to sit on a broader range of cases on a regular basis and maintain experience and thus competence. It aims to reduce delays, and provide a more consistent service to court users. There... More
    Closed 14 September 2015

  • Consultation on the merger of the Local Justice Areas in Greater Manchester

    This consultation sets out a proposal on the future arrangements for Local Justice Areas (LJA’s) in Greater Manchester. There are 3 key reasons for considering a merger of the current 8 LJA’s: to improve the effectiveness of the delivery of justice by improving flexibility in dealing with cases to make better use of reduced resources to increase the opportunities for magistrates to retain experience and thus competence The Judicial Business Group (JBG)... More
    Closed 14 September 2015

  • MedCo Framework Review: Call for Evidence

    This paper sets out a Call for Evidence relating to the operation of the MedCo Portal. The purpose of the paper is to set out the issues on which the Government is seeking evidence from stakeholders. Guide questions are provided to assist stakeholders in identifying evidence relevant to those parts of the system that are under review. It would assist the analysis of the evidence provided if respondents could follow the guide questions wherever possible. There is... More
    Closed 4 September 2015

  • DNA Testing in private family law (children) cases

    This consultation relates to proposed changes to the Blood Tests (Evidence of Paternity) Regulations 1971 (“the 1971 Regulations”) [1] . The consultation relates to possible changes to the definition of “sampler”, and what a sampler must do. The consultation is required to inform possible amendments to the 1971 Regulations to support the roll-out of a scheme for the funding of DNA testing in private family law (children) cases in England and Wales. [1] ... More
    Closed 21 August 2015

  • Revising the Victims’ Code

    The statutory Code of Practice for Victims of Crime (“the Code”) places obligations on core criminal justice agencies to provide victims of crime with support and information. We revised the Code in December 2013 to include some additional entitlements, make it clearer and more readable, and to give greater flexibility to core criminal justice agencies to tailor services according to individual need. The Code is central to our strategy for transposing Directive 2012/29/EU of the... More
    Closed 16 August 2015

  • Proposed amendments to the Allocation guideline

    The Sentencing Council is seeking feedback from sentencers, justices’ clerks, legal advisers, prosecutors, defence representatives and other court users on proposals to update the definitive Allocation guideline. The consultation runs for six weeks. This is a shorter period than is customary for Sentencing Council consultations. The reasons for this are: the consultation relates to a concise, technical guideline likely to be of interest only to those directly concerned with... More
    Closed 31 July 2015

  • Dangerous dog offences guideline

    The Sentencing Council issued a dangerous dog offences guideline in August 2012. [1] In May 2014 amendments to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 were enacted through the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, [2] which made such substantial changes to the offence and the maximum penalties that the Council considered it would be appropriate to revise comprehensively the existing guideline. The Council considered simply updating the existing guideline to reflect the amended... More
    Closed 9 June 2015

  • Proposals for further reforms to court fees

    In Part 1 of the Government response to the consultation ' Court fees: proposals for reform ', we set out our decision to consider alternatives to the proposed fee increase for divorce. However, whilst we have decided not to proceed with the divorce proposal, this has not changed the financial imperative to increase income to the courts from fees. Therefore, the Government Response also seeks views on proposals to increase: the fees to commence applications for the recovery of... More
    Closed 27 February 2015

  • Health and safety offences, corporate manslaughter and food safety and hygiene offences guidelines

    The Council is consulting on the draft guidelines for sentencing health and safety, corporate manslaughter and food safety offences. The Council is not consulting on the legislation that establishes these offences, which is a matter for Parliament. Equally, issues that are the responsibility of the relevant regulatory bodies, such as wider enforcement policy or the decision to bring a prosecution, are outside of the scope of this consultation. The Council is keen to seek as many views... More
    Closed 18 February 2015

  • Robbery Guideline

    Why robbery? The Sentencing Council recently issued a definitive fraud, bribery and money laundering guideline and held a consultation on guidelines for theft offences. When drawing up the work programme it was considered logical to develop guidelines for acquisitive offences at a similar time. The Council was also mindful that the existing robbery guideline does not include guidance for sentencing all types of robbery. There is one offence of robbery; section 8(1) of the Theft Act... More
    Closed 23 January 2015

  • Information Commissioner’s Office Triennial Review 2014: call for evidence

    As part of the UK government’s requirement to reform public bodies, all government departments must review their non departmental public bodies (NDPBs) at least once every 3 years. As with all triennial reviews, the review of the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) will examine whether there is a continuing need for its functions and whether the organisation should continue to operate in its current form, considering whether services could be provided more effectively and... More
    Closed 16 January 2015

  • Welsh Language Scheme 2014

    The Ministry of Justice invites the public to take part in a consultation on its revised Welsh Language Scheme. We look forward to hearing what people have to say and making sure that the revised scheme continues to reflect the needs of all people whose preferred language is Welsh. After three years of operating our existing Welsh Language Scheme, to help maintain its currency, applicability and effectiveness, the Ministry of Justice has reviewed and updated the scheme. This was... More
    Closed 7 January 2015

  • Cynllun iaith Gymraeg 2014

    Mae’r Weinyddiaeth Cyfiawnder yn gwahodd y cyhoedd i gymryd rhan mewn ymgynghoriad ar ei Chynllun Iaith Gymraeg diwygiedig. Rydym yn edrych ymlaen at glywed beth sydd gan bobl i’w ddweud a gwneud yn siŵr bod y cynllun diwygiedig yn parhau i adlewyrchu anghenion pawb y mae’n well ganddynt ddefnyddio’r Gymraeg. Ar ôl gweithredu ein Cynllun Iaith Gymraeg cyfredol am dair blynedd, er mwyn helpu i wneud yn siŵr ei fod yn dal yn gyfredol, yn berthnasol ac yn effeithiol, mae’r... More
    Closed 7 January 2015

  • Proposed merger of the local justice areas in North Yorkshire

    Overview A consultation proposing a merger of the four Local Justice Areas (LJAs) in North Yorkshire into a single area to be known as the North Yorkshire LJA. The work of the Magistrates’ Courts in North Yorkshire is currently split between 4 LJAs (or benches): York and Selby Harrogate and Skipton Northallerton and Richmond Scarborough. This proposal will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of justice in North Yorkshire by making best use... More
    Closed 31 December 2014

  • Regulation fees paid by claims management companies

    This paper sets out the levels at which claims management regulation fees (the fees collectable for applications for authorisation and the costs incurred by the Regulator through direct regulation of authorised CMCs) will be set for the 2015-16 regulatory year and proposes the methods of calculation by which they will be collected. This consultation is aimed at persons authorised to provide claims management services in England and Wales under the Compensation Act 2006 and those CMCs and... More
    Closed 18 December 2014

  • Fee-paid Judicial Pension Scheme

    This consultation seeks views on the proposed design of the Fee-paid Judicial Pension Scheme (FPJPS). You can submit your views online or by post. The postal address is: Alex Scott Judicial Policy, Pay and Pensions Ministry of Justice 2.53 102 Petty France London SW1H 9A More
    Closed 12 December 2014

  • Proposed changes to listing arrangements for Cambridgeshire

    A consultation on the proposals for listing in the new Cambridgeshire Bench from 1 April 2015 following the decision to merge the three existing benches of Huntingdonshire, North Cambridgeshire and South Cambridgeshire into one Local Justice Area. This consultation is aimed at magistrates, court users, partners, other judiciary, staff and other parties with an interest in the provision of local justice arrangements in Cambridgeshire. The aim of the proposals is to improve the... More
    Closed 5 December 2014

  • Changes to remuneration for legal aid services

    On 13 March 2014, the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (ASBCPA) received Royal Assent. The Act introduces a number of new Injunctions and orders, including a series of orders to prevent sexual harm, criminal behaviour orders and injuctions under Part 1 all of which require legal aid. The Government proposes changes to the legal aid remuenration schemes to coincide with the implementation of Part 1 of the Act early next year. The reforms proposed aim to ensure that... More
    Closed 1 December 2014

  • Proposed merger of the local justice areas in Northumbria

    This consultation is issued on behalf of the Northumbria Judicial Business Group (JBG), which comprises members of the judiciary and HM Courts and Tribunal Service managers. The JBG has responsibility for managing the judicial business of magistrates' courts within Northumbria. There are currently 7 local justice areas in Northumbria. The JBG is seeking views on whether there should be a merger of the local justice areas in Northumbria. This consultation is intended to inform the... More
    Closed 1 December 2014

  • Plans for Secure College rules

    Background In February 2013 the Government published a consultation paper, Transforming Youth Custody: Putting education at the heart of detention . This set out the Government’s vision to transform youth custody to tackle high reoffending rates and high cost, and to place quality education at the centre of efforts to rehabilitate young offenders. The consultation sought views from a wide range of organisations and individuals on how the Government’s vision for Secure Colleges... More
    Closed 27 November 2014

  • Claims Management Regulation: proposals for amendments to the complaints handling rules

    The Claims Management Regulator (CMR) is consulting on proposals to make technical changes the Complaints Handling Rules 2006. This paper sets out for consultation proposals to amend the Complaints Handling Rules 2006 that authorised claims management companies (CMCs) need to follow when handling complaints made by their clients. The proposed changes are as a result of the intended extension of the Legal Ombudsman's jurisdiction to consider complaints about CMCs. The consultation is... More
    Closed 24 November 2014

  • Guardianship of the property and affairs of missing persons

    When a person goes missing, there is currently no legal mechanism for another person to manage his or her affairs during his or her absence. This can lead to the dissipation of the missing person’s assets (for example, through uncancellable Direct Debits) and the deterioration or loss of assets (for example, through lack of maintenance or failure to meet financial obligations, such as mortgage payments). For the same reason the disappearance can deprive dependants of the support they... More
    Closed 18 November 2014

  • Transforming Legal Aid: Crime duty contracts

    Earlier this year the Ministry of Justice, following detailed engagement with the Law Society, published proposals to help create a more sustainable legal aid market in criminal litigation. As previously announced, we have allowed an unlimited number of own client contracts for providers who meet the required quality standards. We also stated our intention to offer the highest number of duty work contracts recommended - 525 - following specialist research from Otterburn Legal Consulting... More
    Closed 15 October 2014

  • Judicial pension reform: New Judicial Pension Scheme 2015 consultation

    This consultation seeks views on the reforms to judicial pension arrangements, in the form of the proposed New Judicial Pension Scheme 2015 and on the draft regulations that will give effect to the proposed scheme. UPDATE 11 September 2014: Partnership Pension Account The department is now in a position to provide further details on the proposed Partnership Pension Account (PPA), which will be open to all those eligible to join the NJPS 2015. This update amends the original consultation... More
    Closed 29 September 2014

  • Marriages by non-religious belief organisations

    Section 14 of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 requires a review to be carried out of whether the law should be changed to permit marriages by non-religious belief organisations. The consultation asks if there is a substantial case for changing the law to establish non-religious belief ceremonies. This would allow a third type of legal ceremony, alongside religious and civil ceremonies, for getting married in England and Wales. Section 14 defines a belief organisation as ‘an... More
    Closed 18 September 2014
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