Legislation / Legal

OFT: The OFT recently advised the Competition Commission that the Domestic Electrical Goods Order and associated undertakings, which cover everyday goods such as televisions & washing machines, can be removed. The Competition Commission will now consider the OFT's advice, before reaching a conclusion on what should happen to the Order.
Press release & links
 
ScotGov: First Minister Alex Salmond has welcomed the publication of the first report of the Review Group examining the relationship between the High Court of Justiciary and the UK Supreme Court in criminal cases. The McCluskey report agrees that the existing statutory basis for bringing human rights issues to the Supreme Court is 'seriously flawed'.
Press release & links
 
OFT: The OFT has put passenger travel companies on notice to change misleading debit & credit card surcharging practices or face enforcement action under consumer protection laws. Publishing its findings on these surcharges, following a super-complaint from Which?, the OFT also calls for the law to be updated to stop consumers being surcharged when buying goods & services with any debit card.
 
The OFT considers that surcharging for using a credit or debit card is potentially misleading to consumers when it comes as a surprise - particularly when free payment mechanisms are only available to a small proportion of consumers, making a surcharge effectively compulsory.
Press release & links
 
HMT: The Government has published the Sovereign Grant Bill, which is intended to establish ‘a more permanent, flexible and accountable way of supporting Her Majesty, The Queen in Her official duties’.  The Civil List has been paid to Sovereigns since 1760. Legislation was last substantively revised in 1972.  The Bill sets out the detail of the approach announced by the Government at the June Budget 2010 and Spending Review 2010.
 
The Bill will ensure that the heir to the throne, whether or not (s)he is also the Duke of Cornwall, receives the equivalent of full revenues of the Duchy.  So all heirs, whether Duke of Cornwall or not, are treated the same.
Press release ~ HMT: Sovereign Grant Bill 
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