Draft Constitutional Renewal Bill (provisions Relating to the Attorney General)
Draft Constitutional Renewal Bill (provisions Relating to the Attorney General)

Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Justice Committee

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 68

ISBN-13: 9780215521262

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This report examines the draft Constitutional Renewal Bill (contained in Cm. 7342-I,II,III, ISBN 9780101734226) to see how far its provisions put into effect the recommendations of its predecessor Committee's 5th report on the constitutional role of the Attorney General (HC 306, session 2006-07, ISBN 9780215035462). The draft Bill makes no substantial change to the current situation. The Attorney General remains both chief legal adviser to the Government and a Government minister. There is no justification for giving the Attorney General power to halt investigations by the Serious Fraud Office. The Committee favours a statutory duty being placed on ministers to observe the rule of law. The accountability of the post remains limited. Public confidence in the post could be enhanced if it were to become the practice to publish all or most of the Attorney General's advice where it is referred to in support of a political case being put forward by the Government. The problem of being both legal adviser and a minister is difficult to resolve, but the Committee believes that transparency require s separating the political functions from the legal functions. The Draft Bill fails to achieve the purpose given to constitutional reform by the Prime Minister: it gives greater power to the Executive; and it does not add to transparency.

Constitutional reform and renewal
Constitutional reform and renewal

Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Justice Committee

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2009-07-29

Total Pages: 56

ISBN-13: 9780215540584

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The Committee recognises the appetite in many quarters for fundamental constitutional change and welcomes the Government's renewed focus on constitutional reform and renewal in response to this. It is surprised by the limited provisions in the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill, and fears that this may be a missed opportunity to make progress in some areas of reform. Any programme introducing fundamental change should be carefully constructed and aimed at a coherent outcome taking into account the widest possible range of views and allowing sufficient time for consideration and response. The Government's approach to constitutional reform has been ad hoc and piecemeal. Reform must underpinned by a set of constitutional principles based on a proper understanding of the position and role of Parliament in relation to the other institutions of state. The report covers the Parliamentary Standards Bill, House of Lords reform, a written constitution, stronger powers to local government, electoral reform, young people's engagement with politics, freedom of information. The Committee cautions that inappropriate handling of bills and proposals for reform specifically designed to restore public trust may further undermine that trust.

The Governance of Britain
The Governance of Britain

Author: Great Britain. Ministry of Justice

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 272

ISBN-13: 9780101734226

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This White Paper contains a three volume set of documents (Cm. 7342-I/II/III, ISBN 9780101734226) and is part of the Governance of Britain series examining constitutional renewal. In July 2007, the Governance of Britain Green Paper was published (ISBN 9780101717021) which set out the Government's vision and proposals for constitutional renewal, calling on the public, Parliament and other organisations to submit views. The result of the consultation is the publication of this White Paper. Volume 1 covers the substantive issues of constitutional renewal, including: the Government's policy proposals; the Attorney General; judicial appointments; treaties; the civil service; war powers; flag flying and other policies, such as the reform of the Intelligence and Security Committee; a wider review of the Royal Perogative; passports; the National Audit Office; public appointments and Church of England appointments. Volume 2, presents the draft Constitutional Renewal Bill, with Volume 3, setting out an analysis of the consultations. For specific publications on a number of the issues examined here, see Cm. 7239, War Powers & Treaties - ISBN 9780101723923; Cm. 7210, Judicial Appointments, ISBN 9780101721028; Cm. 7192, Role of the Attorney General, ISBN 9780101719223.

Draft Constitutional Renewal Bill
Draft Constitutional Renewal Bill

Author: Bernan

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 452

ISBN-13: 9780104013502

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The draft Bill and White Paper were included in Cm. 7342-I,II,III (ISBN 9780101734226) which follows the Green paper issued in July 2007, Cm. 7170 (ISBN 9780101717021) and various other Governance of Britain papers

Model Rules of Professional Conduct
Model Rules of Professional Conduct

Author: American Bar Association. House of Delegates

Publisher: American Bar Association

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 216

ISBN-13: 9781590318737

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The Model Rules of Professional Conduct provides an up-to-date resource for information on legal ethics. Federal, state and local courts in all jurisdictions look to the Rules for guidance in solving lawyer malpractice cases, disciplinary actions, disqualification issues, sanctions questions and much more. In this volume, black-letter Rules of Professional Conduct are followed by numbered Comments that explain each Rule's purpose and provide suggestions for its practical application. The Rules will help you identify proper conduct in a variety of given situations, review those instances where discretionary action is possible, and define the nature of the relationship between you and your clients, colleagues and the courts.

Crown Dependencies
Crown Dependencies

Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Justice Committee

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 24

ISBN-13: 9780215525581

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey are self-governing dependencies of the UK. These "Crown Dependencies" have their own directly-elected legislatures together with independent legal, administrative and fiscal systems. UK legislation only extends to them with the consent of the relevant legislatures. The UK Government represents the Crown Dependencies in international and defence matters, a role for which it receives annual payment from each dependency. The Ministry of Justice is the UK Government department responsible for managing the UK's constitutional relationship with the Crown Dependencies and the department's performance in doing so falls within the remit of this Committee. In 2008 problems in the Icelandic banking sector (also affecting subsidiaries of Icelandic banks in, inter alia, the UK, Isle of Man and Guernsey) and the UK authorities' response gave rise to a number of issues which, in the opinion of the Committee, merited examination. Many UK-based depositors in banks in the Crown Dependencies fear that they may have lost most or all of their savings and want to know what responsibilities the UK Government has in these matters. The Committee took evidence from Lord Bach, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice and received written evidence. Prior to this, in November 2008, the Committee had the benefit of an informal meeting with a delegation from Tynwald, the Isle of Man legislature, led by its President, Hon Noel Cringle MLC. The Committee believes that some questions over the relationship between the UK and the Crown Dependencies remain to be answered and that further clarity on the way in which the dependencies' interests are protected by the UK Government is required. The situation is further complicated by the relationships between the parent banks in Iceland and their subsidiaries in the UK, the Isle of Man and Guernsey as well as between the financial regulators in each jurisdiction. The Committee was not sure that the arrangements within the Government were adequate to deal with all aspects of the recent crisis. The Committee intend to return to the wider issues, and the performance of the Ministry of Justice in these matters, in the New Year. There is also the independent review of the immediate and long-term challenges facing British offshore financial centres in the current economic climate commissioned by HM Treasury.

Devolution
Devolution

Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Justice Committee

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2009-05-24

Total Pages: 106

ISBN-13: 9780215530387

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Devolution was a major component of the Government's package of proposed constitutional reform for the United Kingdom post 1997. Devolution has fundamentally transformed politics within the devolved territories, but it has also had a significant impact on the make-up and the constitution of the United Kingdom. Fundamental changes in the way Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are governed have not been followed by major changes in the way England is governed. Matters which are the responsibility of devolved Parliaments in the rest of the UK are, in England, determined by the United Kingdom Government and Parliament. This report identifies several changes required to improve the current infrastructure and the procedures and practices of governance in the UK after devolution, in order to facilitate the effective and efficient functioning of the asymmetric system of devolution. Whitehall was not ready for devolution. Departmental responsibility for overseeing the working of the UK's system of government has been divided and unsettled, and the report recommends that a lead department responsible for devolution strategy be identified. The second half of the report identifies two significant constitutional and political issues which have been brought into sharp focus since the onset of devolution in 1999: first, the fact that England remains highly centralised under the authority of the UK Government and Parliament, resulting in the "English Question", a phrase which encapsulates a range of different questions in relation to the governance of England, and, secondly, the increasing concern about the efficacy and application of the Barnett Formula as the means for the allocation of increases and decreases in public funds.

The Work of the Information Commissioner
The Work of the Information Commissioner

Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Justice Committee

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 48

ISBN-13: 9780215526380

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The post of Information Commissioner is one of those identified as eligible for pre-appointment hearings by the Justice Committee. The current Commissioner, Richard Thomas, is due to step down in June 2009 after five years in post, and the preferred candidate to succeed him is Christopher Graham, Director General of the Advertising Standards Authority. The Committee was invited by the Ministry of Justice to report on Mr Graham's suitability for the role, which is to be extended by provisions in the Coroners and Justice Bill going through Parliament. Mr Graham's background clearly provides him with a range of experience indicative of his suitability to be a candidate for the role of Information Commissioner, including familiarity with the regulatory landscape, the development of codes of practice, the potential for judicial review, customer service, assessing compliance, running a large organisation and managing change. In view of the overall challenge facing a new Information Commissioner - an increase of an order of magnitude on what Mr Graham has previously dealt with - the Committee welcomed the opportunity to question him on his view of the priorities and potential approach. The Committee believes the Government should ensure the Commissioner has sufficient resources for its work. The Committee endorses Mr Graham's suitability for appointment as Information Commissioner and his preliminary view of the priorities of the role and its supporting organisation. It looks forward to a continuing dialogue on progress both in protecting people's personal information effectively and sensitively, and in securing implementation of the letter, and the spirit, of the Freedom of Information Act.

Cutting Crime
Cutting Crime

Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Justice Committee

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 232

ISBN-13: 9780215543080

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This is the first report from the Justice Committee in the 2009-10 session and examines the subject of: "Cutting crime: the case for justice reinvestment" (HCP 94-I, ISBN 9780215543080). The report calls for a change in the way we tackle criminal justice and seek to cut re-offending. The Committee states that the criminal justice system faces a "crisis of sustainability" if resources continue to be absorbed by an ever-expanding programme of prison building rather than on preventing crimes from being committed, with prison building not being an effective long-term answer to coping with the already record-breaking prison population which is predicted to rise further. The average prison place costs £41,000 a year (plus further capital costs and health and education expenditure on top), with the Government's new prisons costing - on current estimates - up to £4.2 billion over the next 35 years. The Committee believes that a more "prudent, rational, effective and humane" use of resources is needed to shift the focus of expenditure away from incarceration and towards rehabilitation and prevention. This would involve investment in local education, health, drug, alcohol and community programmes in targeted areas based on analyses of where offences occur, where offenders live and "what works" in reducing offending. This is known as "justice reinvestment". Volume 2, contains oral and written evidence (ISBN 9780215543110).

Corruption and Misuse of Public Office
Corruption and Misuse of Public Office

Author: Colin Nicholls QC

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2011-09-29

Total Pages: 931

ISBN-13: 0199577277

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This book provides a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the law relating to corruption and misuse of public office, including specialist issues such as whistleblowing. This new edition covers major developments in the area since the publication of the first edition, and includes full coverage of the Bribery Act 2010.