Legislation / Legal
ScotGov: The Scottish Government intend to legislate to allow same sex marriage, however ‘legislation will be accompanied by important protections for freedom of speech & religion’. As indicated in the consultation, no religious body will be compelled to conduct same sex marriages - protection for religious bodies who do not wish to conduct same sex marriages already exists under UK equality law.
Where a body does decide to conduct same sex marriages, ScotGov also intends - again, in line with the view expressed in the consultation - to protect individual celebrants who consider such ceremonies to be contrary to their faith.
To give certainty around this protection, ScotGov consider that an amendment to the UK Equality Act will be required. They will work with the UK Government to secure agreement to such an amendment before the formal introduction of a Bill to the Scottish Parliament and with a view to it being in place before the Bill comes into force. As indicated in the consultation, a draft Bill will be published for consultation later in the year.
Press release ~ Registration of Civil Partnerships, Same Sex Marriage: Consultation Analysis ~ Consultation on the registration of civil partnership and same sex marriage - responses from organisations
CBI: Government proposals to move towards ‘opt-out’ class actions for consumers could spark a new litigation industry around competition law and deter inward investment & growth, the CBI said last week. The CBI says that it is absolutely right that businesses that have caused significant loss to consumers should be required to provide compensation.
However, this should be done through Alternative Dispute Resolution, which offers a quicker, cheaper form of redress and better outcomes for consumers, rather than the “big stick” approach of opt-out class actions.
HMT: The Government has issued a joint statement with the governments of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United States, announcing the publication of the Model Intergovernmental Agreement to Improve Tax Compliance and to Implement FATCA. This is a key step towards delivering on the commitment to an intergovernmental approach to implementing the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) made by the same countries in their joint statement published on 8 February 2012.
As set out in the 8 February joint statement, the UK Government has aimed to address the legal barriers to complying with FATCA, ensure the burdens imposed on financial institutions are proportionate to the goal of combating tax evasion and establish a reciprocal approach to FATCA implementation.
ICO: Southampton City Council has been ordered to stop the mandatory recording of passengers’ & drivers’ conversations in the city’s taxis, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) announced last week. Since August 2009, the council has required all taxis & private hire vehicles to install CCTV equipment to constantly record images and the conversations of both drivers & passengers.
The ICO has ruled the council’s policy breaches the Data Protection Act, concluding that the recording of all conversations is disproportionate given the very low number of incidents occurring compared to the number of trouble free taxi journeys. An enforcement notice has been issued to the council, who now have until 1 November 2912 to comply.
BIS: The Government has recognised the need to protect children from inappropriate content and has been working with industry representatives ahead of new requirements from 30 July 2012 when the age rating of games aimed at those aged 12 or over will become mandatory.
In future producers will submit all of their video games for Pan European Game Information (PEGI) age classifications from the Video Standards Council which is designated as the new games rating authority. Retailers are working with local & national regulators to ensure everyone understands the new requirements for video games and that staff are fully trained.
OFT: Following OFT action, GB Oils Limited, the largest supplier of heating oil in the country, has changed its domestic heating oil contracts ensuring quoted prices do not increase from the time an order is made until the customer is billed on delivery.
CC: The Competition Commission (CC) has welcomed the Court of Appeal decision to uphold the decision to require BAA to sell Stansted Airport.
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