It was announced in this week's Business Statement that there will be a debate in the Commons on the motions relating to scrutiny of Draft Orders under the Public Bodies Bill on Wednesday, 14 December.

John Penrose, the Minister for Tourism and Heritage, announced yesterday (see here) that the Royal Parks Agency, an executive agency which forms part of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, is to be wound up and the team with its existing responsibilities for the royal parks transferred to the GLA to report to the Mayor.

Defra announced on 26 January (see here) that an independent Advisory Panel has been set up to provide advice to the Government as British Waterways makes the transition from public corporation to charitable body in England and Wales.

This is entry No.3 , first published on 15 November 2010, of a blog on Public Bodies Reform.

This is entry No.36, first published on 31 March 2011, of a blog on public bodies reform.

A belated update on family visitor appeals.

Conservative backbencher Nigel Mills has tabled an interesting amendment to the Immigration Bill, which would prolong restrictions on Romanian and Bulgarian workers until 2018.

Some important changes to costs in legal proceedings take effect from 1 April 2013. One such change affects the operation of Conditional Fee Agreements (CFAs).

Foreign money seeking a refuge from wider economic difficulties has been key to the increase in prime central London property values in recent times so it seems, but Sushila Pindoria, senior associate, believes that this refuge also extends to the elite number of wealthy bankers looking for a safe investment for their hard earned city bonuses.

Consideration of Commons' Amendments on the Bill in the Lords yesterday resulted in the Bill being returned to the Commons with amendment 47 disagreed to "because it is not desirable for the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales to be subject to the provisions of the Bill", a matter now accepted by the Government and with amendments in lieu of amendment 53 agreed, the effect of which is to repeal section 40 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, following the Government's agreement on Tuesday

Nick Maltby, partner at Bircham Dyson Bell LLP believes that the creation of the Education Funding Agency (EFA) and the closure of Partnerships for Schools (PfS) shows that Michael Gove believes that localism has no place in his department.

Landlords are required to pay business rates on empty properties after they are vacant for three months, or six months on industrial warehousing units.

Bob Perrin, partner at Bircham Dyson Bell LLP, recommends simplicity when documenting who does what in preparing contaminated land for development.

Jason Richardson, associate at Bircham Dyson Bell LLP, who works in the lease extension and enfranchisement work team, believes that the current unrest in the Middle East, and economic instability across Europe is helping to increase the attractiveness of investment in prime central London residential property ("PCL").

As the property industry emerges from the flurries of snow currently causing travel chaos for hardened commuters, we turn our thoughts to MIPIM.

An employee who unreasonably rejects an offer of suitable alternative employment is not entitled to a statutory redundancy payment.

The Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill was published on 13 October 2017 and has had its second reading in Parliament. Although this is a Private Members' Bill, it is likely to be passed ...

Recent European and UK case law has established that employees on long-term sickness absence can carry over the minimum four weeks’ paid annual leave required by the EU Working Time Directive without needing to request it.

People who live together, possibly in a very long-standing relationship, often assume that the surviving partner would be properly provided for in the event of their death – the myth of the 'common law marriage'.

In February HM Revenue and Customs issued a discussion document and draft guidance on using proper payment of tax liabilities as a selection criteria.