Legislation / Legal
MoJ: Plans designed to protect householders from unscrupulous Bailiffs in England and Wales have been unveiled by the Ministry of Justice and the new measures will hopefully mean:
* More training for bailiffs to stamp out cowboy practices
* Set qualifications to raise standards
* A powerful independent regulator
* Regulation would provide safeguards to ensure debtors rights were not violated
The plans were announced in the response to the consultation paper ‘Regulation of Enforcement Agents’ published this week, which recommends that bailiffs in England & Wales should be regulated by one body, the Security Industry Authority (SIA).
Press release ~ Consultation and government response - ‘Regulation of Enforcement Agents’ ~ Bailiffs and debt collectors : Directgov ~ Security Industry Authority (SIA) ~ Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
MoJ: A major clean-up of meaningless and defunct laws from the Statute Book is being launched in the House of Lords. All or part of 328 Acts of Parliament masquerading as live laws are to be removed under the Statute Law (Repeals) Bill, which had its Second Reading this week.
This bill implements joint recommendations of the Law Commission and Scottish Law Commission and it was prepared on the basis of extensive consultation, and those potentially affected by the repeal of the provisions were given opportunity to contribute their views.
The Bill is the 18th Statute Law (Repeals) Bill and the subject matter covered by the repealed Acts relates to a wide range of subjects including the Armed Forces, County Gaols, the Criminal Law, the East India Company, London, the Police, Rating, Tax and Duties, Town and Country Planning, and Turnpikes. The oldest statute affected is the London to Harwich Roads Act 1695.
Press release ~ Statute Law (Repeals) Bill ~ Law Commission ~ Scottish Law Commission ~ Ministry of Justice
