Legislation / Legal
DCA: From last week all claims management companies will be regulated by the Department for Constitutional Affairs. Those authorised to provide the regulated services must follow strict rules of conduct, which are intended to ensure that consumers are given clear information about the options available for pursuing their claim. A baseline study has also been published which provides an analysis of the sectors being regulated and outlines the strategy for dealing with malpractice. The regulation will initially apply to claims in respect of:
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Personal injury
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Criminal injuries compensation
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Employment
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Housing disrepair
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Financial products and services
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Industrial injury disablement benefits
Press release ~ Claims Management Regulation website ~ Baseline Study ~ Compensation Act 2006 Home Office: The United Kingdom and United States have ratified a bilateral extradition treaty that the government claims will modernise & extend the arrangements for extradition between them and, for the first time, allow for the extradition of individuals accused of twenty-first century crimes, such as child internet pornography, which were not extraditable offences under the old arrangements. The treaty's new provisions include:
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Defining an extraditable offence as one punishable by a 12 month or longer sentence in both states
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Removing US statute of limitations issues
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Introducing a measure to allow for the temporary surrender of persons serving a prison sentence in the requested state
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Permitting the waiver of the rule of speciality.
Press release ~ Extradition Act 2003 ~ Home Office: Extradition Act 2003 - Part 1 ~ Home Office: Extradition Act 2003 - Part 2 ~ Home Office: Extradition to the UK (outgoing requests) ~ BBC News: MPs angry at 'unfair' extradition ~ Chatham House discussion paper