Legislation / Legal

ScotGov: Legislation to deliver the best package of early learning & childcare in the UK will be introduced in the Scottish Parliament next year as part of the new Children and Young People Bill.  The announcement of the new Bill coincides with the recent publication of the ‘Do the Right Thing’ report on ScotGov’s work to support children and their rights.
Press release ~ ‘Do the Right Thing’ report
 
HOForeign nationals refused a visa for a short visit to see family members in the UK will lose the full right to appeal the decision in the courts, saving £10ms and freeing up tribunals to deal with more serious cases (they will have to re-apply).  A decision on a fresh application will be received much more quickly than an appeal, typically within 15 days, in comparison with the appeal route which can take up to 8 months
 
The number of appeals has soared since 2000 (when full appeal rights were re-introduced) to almost 50,000 (almost 40% of all immigration appeals) at an estimated cost of £29m per year. The change is included in the Crime and Courts Bill, which was published on Friday (11 May) and is expected to come into force by 2014.

 In the meantime, interim measures will ensure that the full right of appeal will be limited to those applying to visit a close family member (see press release for more information).
Press release ~ Crime and Courts Bill
 
ICO: The London Borough of Barnet has been issued with a penalty of £70,000 for ‘losing paper records containing highly sensitive and confidential information, including the names, addresses, dates of birth and details of the sexual activities of 15 vulnerable children or young people’.
 
The loss occurred when a social worker took the paper records home to work on them out of hours. The social worker’s home was burgled in April last year, and a laptop bag, containing the records and an encrypted computer, was stolen.  The ICO’s investigation found that the council failed to take appropriate organisational measures against the accidental loss of personal data held on paper records.
Press release & links
 
HO: Police are to be given the power to prosecute up to 50% of magistrates' court cases, the Home Secretary announced recently. The bureaucracy cutting move will see about 500,000 cases taken through the courts by officers - reducing the time it takes to serve justice and preventing the duplication of work between the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.
Press release & links
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