Legislation / Legal

LC: Following extensive consultation, the Law Commission published its report on Cohabitation to Parliament on 31 July 2007.  The report contains final recommendations regarding the law as it affects cohabitants' property and finances when their relationships end, whether by separation or by death.
 
On 6 September 2011, they published the Law Commission's response to a written ministerial statement which announced the Government's intention to not take forward the LC’s recommendations for reform during the current parliamentary term.
Press release & links
 
ASInefficiency in Scotland’s criminal justice system causes delays for everyone involved, including victims & witnesses, and cost at least £10m in 2009/10.  An Audit Scotland report (An overview of Scotland’s criminal justice system) finds that the criminal justice system cost an estimated £857m in 2009/10.  While cases are now processed through the courts quicker, many cases still have to repeat stages, costing around £10m in 2009/10, others are subject to late decisions not to proceed, costing an additional £30m.  Much of this inefficiency is avoidable.
 
The report also finds that re-offending is a continuing problem in Scotland.  Most prisoners are re-offenders; over two-thirds of those sent to prison in 2009/10 had 5 or more previous convictions. Less than 10% of estimated criminal justice ‘spend’ (around £81m in 2009/10) is spent directly on services to reduce re-offending.
 Press release & links ~ Inefficiency in Scotland’s justice system costs time and money ~ ScotGov press release
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