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Read the latest briefing notes upon change or developments in the law.

Legal Updates - November 2008

Archive :

Balls announces extra child protection measures
21 Nov 2008

Children''s minister Ed Balls will ensure the presence of a Children''s Trust Board in every local authority in the wake of the Baby P scandal, it has...


Unfair dismissal ''potential'' for any sacked BNP members
21 Nov 2008

The leader of the British National Party (BNP) has claimed individuals identified by a leaked membership list could sue if they are made redundant by ...


Workplace bullying ''must be tackled''
21 Nov 2008

Business owners and employers should be aware of the risks of workplace bullying, one charity organisation has suggested.Andrea Adams Trust chief exec...


Councils ''should save surveillance powers for serious crime''
20 Nov 2008

Councils in England and Wales have been urged to ensure the appropriate use of surveillance competences under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers A...


More firms ''should adopt CSR'', expert says
20 Nov 2008

Adopting a positive approach towards corporate social responsibility (CSR) can help businesses improve their profit margins, it has been claimed.Danie...


Empty property petition launched
19 Nov 2008

A Kent Conservative candidate has launched a petition calling for the abolition of empty property rates in England, it has been announced.Laura Sandys...


News laws ''needed'' for training time
19 Nov 2008

Legislation allowing employees to take time off for training and professional development purposes is needed, according to the World of Learning.Senio...


Siblings fail to contest brother''s will
19 Nov 2008

The brother and sister of a deceased bachelor who challenged his £137,000 will have lost their legal battle in the high court, it has been reported.Ju...


Celebrity divorce clampdown ''needed''
18 Nov 2008

New laws are required to restrict the potential for judicial interpretation in celebrity divorce cases, it has been claimed.The Centre for Social Just...


Common land amendment made to planning bill
18 Nov 2008

The House of Lords will today (November 18th) consider the planning bill for a third time, following further amendments, it has been reported.Changes ...


Lord Mandelson launches minimum wage campaign
18 Nov 2008

A new campaign has been launched geared at ensuring employers adhere to minimum wage requirements, as the government sanctioned tougher penalties for ...


EU fruit and veg relaxation ''will cut wastage''
17 Nov 2008

The return of "ugly" and misshapen fruit and vegetables to shops across the European Union will help cut food wastage, it has been claimed.On Wednesda...


Caterers ''must provide healthy options''
17 Nov 2008

Every business in the catering sector can do more to provide healthier choices for consumers, it has been claimed.Addressing the Health Select Committ...


FPB criticises empty property rate law change
14 Nov 2008

The end of empty property rate relief has had a "significant impact" on commercial property, the Forum of Private Business (FPB) has claimed.Liability...


International law ''is increasingly important''
14 Nov 2008

Businesses increasingly need to be aware of developments in international law, a leading Magic Circle lawyer has suggested.Writing for the Times, inte...


Cancer victim''s will disputed by siblings
14 Nov 2008

The siblings of a deceased bachelor are challenging his will after he left all assets to his Filipina girlfriend, it has been reported.Christopher War...


Job losses ''should be last resort''
13 Nov 2008

Redundancies should be considered a "last resort" for companies struggling in the face of the global economic downturn, it has been suggested.Accordin...


Child maintenance overhaul ''was needed''
13 Nov 2008

New powers to enforce child maintenance orders in England and Wales were long overdue, according to one Staffordshire-based family lawyer.Commenting o...


Tribunal payout increase witnessed
12 Nov 2008

A rise has been witnessed in the level of tribunal payouts for unfair dismissal, discrimination and equal pay claims, it has been reported.The Sunday ...


Ritchie ''forced to delay'' Madonna divorce announcement
12 Nov 2008

Guy Ritchie wanted to reveal that he and Madonna would be divorcing earlier, but was told to hold off in order to protect her career, it has been repo...


Two-thirds of professionals ''unaware of inheritance tax changes''
12 Nov 2008

A large number of older professionals remain unaware that the law regarding inheritance tax changed in October 2007, a new study has suggested.Researc...


CBI: Lords right to support planning bill
11 Nov 2008

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has welcomed the decision of the House of Lords to support the government''s planning bill.If enacted, the...


Lack of lending ''fuels insolvencies''
11 Nov 2008

A significant increase in the number of insolvencies in England and Wales was witnessed between July and September 2008, it has been reported.Figures ...


Business rental contracts ''lack flexibility''
11 Nov 2008

"Inflexible" commercial property contracts are a major cause of difficulties within the industry, according to the Forum of Private Business.A spokesp...


NHS ''faces challenges'' over alcohol initiative
11 Nov 2008

The NHS will face "challenges" when implementing the £6million initiative to target alcohol ''black spots'' in the UK, according to Alcohol Concern. C...


Loss of working time opt-out ''could increase costs''
10 Nov 2008

Employers could face increased costs if the European Parliament votes to remove the UK''s working time directive opt-out, it has been claimed.Paul Rey...


Inheritance tax ''reflects price falls''
10 Nov 2008

Beneficiaries under a will may be able to reduce their inheritance tax bill where falling property values reduce the size of an estate.Pricewaterhouse...


Some CRB checks ''are unnecessary''
07 Nov 2008

Many employees and job applicants face unnecessary background checks, it has been suggested.According to employment lawyer and partner Stephen Levinso...


Seaman leaves £24,000 to mission
07 Nov 2008

The Falmouth Mission to Seafarers has been left £24,000 in the will of a member of a prominent local family, it has been reported.Gerald Russell Pill,...


North-west ''determined to tackle climate change''
07 Nov 2008

Taking action to combat climate change can indeed reduce costs and improve life quality, it has been claimed.Speaking at the Northwest Climate Change ...


European committee votes against working time opt-out
06 Nov 2008

The UK''s working time directive opt-out has come under new pressure after the European Parliament''s employment social affairs committee voted agains...


Savings guarantee risk for discretionary trusts
06 Nov 2008

Discretionary trust beneficiaries may not always derive benefit from the government''s decision to guarantee all savings deposits up to £50,000, it ha...


Charity funding website launched
05 Nov 2008

Charities and voluntary organisations may find it easier to attract funding from the government following the launch of a new website.A new online too...


City ''does not need more regulation''
05 Nov 2008

The London stock exchange can do without a "knee-jerk reaction" to the current economic crisis, it has been claimed.Cameron McKenna partner Simon Morr...


Recession ''can boost'' retirement planning
04 Nov 2008

A recessionary period can create opportunities for those with a proactive approach towards retirement planning, it has been claimed.Speaking to the Te...


Sports clubs exempt from affiliation fee VAT
04 Nov 2008

Sports clubs will be able to pay governing body affiliation fees free form the burden of VAT, following a ruling of the European Court of Justice (ECJ...


Internet freedom initiative ''lacks teeth''
04 Nov 2008

The Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom (CPBF) has raised concerns over the future of freedom of expression and privacy on the internet. Accor...