New reforming measures under the Housing Act 2004 will come into force in April 2006. This is part of the Government’s objective to bring houses which have been unoccupied for long periods back into use, to improve management of properties by landlords through licensing, as well as applying health and safety measures to the housing market.

In the recent case of All Answers Ltd v W and Another, the Court of Appeal provided clarity on when the disability status of Claimants should be assessed.

The use of long-term section 17 leave was very much discouraged following the creation of community treatment orders ("CTO") pursuant to section 17A in 2007.

As is now well-known, the Government has confirmed that there will in due course be a public inquiry into the Covid 19 pandemic. It is said that this will take place in 2022 on the basis...

The Queen's Speech on 11 May 2021 laid out a programme of some 30 pieces of legislation. This included a Health and Care Bill with proposals to tackle obesity and improve mental health support.

The House of Commons Justice Committee has launched a mental health inquiry in prisons.

The Chancellor has announced that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) will be extended until 30 September 2021.

As another World Cup tournament comes to an end who can believe that it was four years ago since we had the last one? Time certainly flies in the sporting arena, particularly, it seems, if you do not care much for the nation’s favourite sport.

The House of Lords has recently reviewed the requirements of verdicts in inquests in the light of the <I>Human Rights Act 1998, </I>(HRA) in the case of <I>R (on the application of Middleton) v West Somerset Coroner [2004]. </I>Article 2 of the HRA protects the right to life and imposes on the state substantive obligations to establish a framework of laws, precautions, procedures and means of enforcement which would, to the greatest extent reasonably practical, protect life.

Queries often arise regarding the legal issues concerning taking photographs of residents who lack the capacity to consent to this. ">Photographs may be taken for identification purposes, especially useful if the resident may stray from the home and become lost.

Over the past week the world's press has been full of the announcement that Bill and Melinda Gates are to get divorced.

In our November 2003 Employment Update, we discussed jurisdictional issues relating to claims brought by employees who work outside the UK. The article was aptly called "Employment Tribunals go Overseas". Well, they are now coming back.

recent case involving a club doorman prompts Robert O’Donovan to think about the increasing liabilities placed on employers.

If the Council for the Regulation of Healthcare Professionals (the ‘Council’) considers it necessary for the protection of the public, it can appeal to the High Court against disciplinary decisions made by professional bodies. A decision of the Court of Appeal interpreting section 29 of the National Health Service and Healthcare Professionals Act 2000 has widened the scope for appeals by the Council.

The recent Court of Appeal decision in the case of Dacas –v- Brook Street Bureau suggests that agency workers could be employees of the end client, with resulting rights not to be unfairly dismissed. As a result of this decision, the use of agency staff may in the future may be less attractive.

On occasion it may be necessary to obtain a Warrant to enable patients to be taken from their home to hospital. Section 135 of the Mental Health Act provides for a magistrate to issue a warrant authorising a policeman to enter premises (by force if necessary) to remove a mentally disordered individual to a place of safety. The patient does not have to be specifically named but the premises do.

As part of a wider system of reforming taxation HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is gradually implementing changes to move tax reporting online.

Changes have been made to the rules governing witness statements over the past 12 months. These changes aim to make the process of preparing witness evidence more open and to ensure that the witness...

The Autumn Budget provided much-needed clarity on the final shape of a new Residential Property Developers Tax (RPDT), set to come into force from 1 April 2022.