• Research Briefing

    Crime and Courts Bill [HL]

    The Bill would establish a new National Crime Agency and make a number of changes to the administration of justice. It also deals with the law of self defence as it applies to householders defending themselves from intruders; makes changes to community sentences and to immigration appeal rights; and introduces a new drug driving offence.

  • Research Briefing

    Trusts (Capital and Income) Bill [HL]

    The Trusts (Capital and Income) Bill [HL] is based substantially on a draft bill prepared by the Law Commission. It is following the special procedure which applies to Law Commission bills. The Bill deals with technical and complex matters relating to trust law where trustees have to distinguish between capital and income in their management of the trust property. It is supported by the Opposition and by professional groups.

  • Research Briefing

    What has happened to school-related quangos?

    As part of the Government’s programme of public bodies’ reform, which affects all Government departments, the Department for Education has abolished a number of school related quangos. Four new Executive Agencies within the Department for Education have been established and have taken on some of the responsibilities of those NDPBs

  • Research Briefing

    Charities Bill [HL]

    The Charities Bill [HL] is a consolidation bill, intended to bring together the provisions of a number of existing Acts of Parliament covering charity law into a single act. It is not intended to make any substantive changes to the law.

  • Research Briefing

    Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill Committee Stage Report

    This is a report on the House of Commons committee stage of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill. It complements Research Paper 11/53. In the Bill’s remaining stages, it is likely that the areas that will prove most contentious will be the restrictions on legal aid, the introduction of new offences and possible Government amendments on squatting and self-defence and sentences of imprisonment for public protection.

  • Research Briefing

    Legal aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill Bill No 205 of 2010-12

    This Research Paper has been prepared for the second reading of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill. The Bill covers a diverse range of issues, including legal aid; litigation funding and costs; sentencing; bail, remand and release on licence; prisoners’ pay and employment; out of court disposals and knives.

  • Research Briefing

    Estates of Deceased Persons (Forfeiture Rule and Law of Succession) Bill : Committee Stage Report

    This is a report on the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Estates of Deceased Persons (Forfeiture Rule and Law of Succession) Bill (the Bill). It complements Research Paper 11/07 prepared for the Commons Second Reading. The Bill is a Private Member's Bill. It was presented to Parliament by Greg Knight, through the ballot procedure, on 30 June 2010 as Bill 8 of 2010-11 and had its second reading on 21 January 2011. The Bill had a single sitting in a Public Bill Committee on 16 February 2011. No amendments had been tabled and there was no disagreement to any of the clauses. The Bill was reported without amendment. The Bill would, in certain circumstances, protect the inheritance rights of the descendants of people who have forfeited their inheritance by killing the deceased; or who have decided not to accept their own inheritance. Broadly, it would implement, with modifications, a number of the recommendations of the Law Commission in its 2005 report, The Forfeiture Rule and the Law of Succession. The Bill would extend to England and Wales.

  • Research Briefing

    Estates of Deceased Persons (Forfeiture Rule and Law of Succession) Bill

    The Estates of Deceased Persons (Forfeiture Rule and Law of Succession) Bill is a Private Member’s Bill introduced by Greg Knight under the ballot procedure. The Ministry of Justice has indicated to Greg Knight that it will support the Bill and has assisted with drafting the Bill and the Explanatory Notes. The Bill would protect the inheritance rights of the descendants of people who have: • forfeited their inheritance by killing the deceased; or • decided not to accept their own inheritance. It would give general effect to the recommendations of the Law Commission in its 2005 report, The Forfeiture Rule and the Law of Succession, which were accepted by the Labour Government in 2006. Similar provisions to those contained in the Bill were included in the Draft Civil Law Reform Bill which the Labour Government published in December 2009. The Coalition Government is not proceeding with that draft Bill.