Legislation / Legal
DH: The Health and Social Care Act 2008, which will hopefully enhance the safety & quality of care and improve public health, has received Royal Assent. It is expected that the changes will start coming into operation from September 2008.
The new Care Quality Commission intended to bring together the expertise of the Healthcare Commission, Commission for Social Care Inspection and Mental Health Act Commission to providea more consistent approach to regulation at a time when services are increasingly crossing traditional health and social care boundaries.
Press release ~ Health and Social Care Act 2008 ~ Care Quality Commission ~ Healthcare Commission ~ Commission for Social Care Inspection ~ Mental Health Act Commission
PB: The Parole Board has welcomed the conclusions & recommendations of the Justice Committee report with regard to imprisonment for public protection sentences & recalls and the pressure on the Parole Board.
Parole Board Chief Executive, Christine Glenn, gave evidence to the Committee in July 2007 with regard to the pressures placed on the Parole Board and how to alleviate them. In response to the findings of the Committee, she said: “I am delighted that they have so fully taken on board the pressures heaped on the Parole Board by the introduction of short-tariff IPP sentences without adequate advance planning…… I do welcome the changes made to IPP sentences in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act….. Like the Committee I welcome the changes to the recall system in the 2008 Act and I wait with interest to see if they have the intended effect."
Press release ~ Parole Board ~ Justice Committee press releaseHouse of Commons Justice Committee report Towards Effective Sentencing
DfT: Crossrail, the largest addition to the transport network in London and the South East for more than 50 years has completed its Parliamentary process, with the Crossrail Bill receiving Royal Assent. The Crossrail Act grants powers to acquire land and for Crossrail to be built & maintained. Enabling works will take place next year, with main construction works set to begin in 2010.
The line will run from Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west through tunnels under central London - with new stations at Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street, Whitechapel, Isle of Dogs (Canary Wharf) - then out to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.
Press release ~ Cross London Rail Links (CLRL) ~ Crossrail briefing ~ Office of Rail Regulation - Crossrail access ~ Crossrail Act 2008
HO: The age at which someone can apply for a marriage visa will increase from 18 to 21 as part of a crackdown on forced marriage, the Home Office has announced. Statistics show that 30% of the cases dealt with by the Government's Forced Marriage Unit involved victims aged between 18 and 21.
The other 4 key proposals announced are to:
* ask foreign spouses to enter into an agreement to learn English before they come to the UK
* introduce a power to revoke leave to remain where there is evidence that the marriage route has been abused
* require all sponsors to register their intention to marry overseas before they leave the UK
* ensure through a code of practice that specialist teams can identify vulnerable people at risk of forced marriage
Press release ~ Marriage Visas: The Way Forward ~ Closed consultation: Marriage to Partners from Overseas ~ Closed consultation: Marriage Visas: pre-entry English Requirement for Spouses ~ Forced Marriage Unit ~ Guidance on forced marriages for frontline workers ~ Home Affairs Committee Report on Domestic Violence, Forced Marriage and ‘Honour’-Based Violence (5.3Mb) ~ Oral & written evidence (2.7Mb) ~ Karma Nirvana ~ Tackling Violence Action Plan ~ The Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 ~ Survivors Handbook ~ What is Forced marriage? ~ Iranian & Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation
BERR: The Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill, aimed at delivering better regulation to businesses across the country, has received Royal Assent. The Act creates a new body, the Local Better Regulation Office that is intended to provide expert advice for central government on the way that local authorities regulate and help ensure more consistent, risk-based, application of regulation for businesses.
In addition, regulators will also have access to a range of new powers that will provide a more appropriate and efficient alternative to criminal prosecution. The Act will create a provision to ensure regulators do not impose or maintain unnecessary burdens on those they regulate.
.png)
