LEGISLATION SI 2008 No 977 with effect from 7th April 2008, amends the Criminal Justice Act 1991 to expand the early release scheme so as to enable foreign national prisoners to be removed from prison, and hence the UK, at an earlier point in their sentence Immigration rule change [HC 420] from 7th April 2008 […]
The Last Week in Housing Law On 17 March 2008 the House of Lords passed an amendment to the Children & Young Persons Bill the effect of which is to create a statutory duty on the Borders & Immigration Agency to safeguard and promote the welfare of children (particularly homeless unaccompanied asylum seekers) who pass […]
We seek two barristers to join our excellent and thriving Housing Team.
News 1400 Iraqis are to have their support withdrawn following notification by the Home Office that they no longer qualify on the basis that there is ‘no safe route of return’. The announcement, reported by the Guardian this week, is a further statement from the government that it believes that Iraq is a safe place […]
The Last Week in Housing Law On 10 March 2008 the Government published the latest information on local housing authorities’ activities under homelessness legislation.The figures cover the last quarter of 2007 for English local authorities. The data includes the number of households accepted as owed the main homelessness duty during the quarter, and the number […]
EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE Sex Discrimination Mayr v Bäckerei und Konditorei Gerhard Flöckner While women undergoing IVF treatment, who have had their ova fertilised but not yet implanted, are not ‘pregnant’ and are therefore not protected from dismissal under the EC Pregnant Workers Directive, if a woman is dismissed for reasons related to such IVF […]
News New Border Agency The birth of the new UK Border Agency (UKBA) was announced by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. The UK Border Agency will bring together the work of the Border and Immigration Agency, UK Visas and parts of HM Revenue and Customs at the border, who will work closely with the police and […]
Issue 87 – 10 March 2008 (Published on Monday, 10 March, 2008) Housing News On 6 March 2008 the Government published the latest research on the impact of Home Information Packs in areas in which they were piloted. The researchers found that 58 per cent of buyers would have liked the opportunity to have seen […]
National Identity Card Scheme The Home Office announced last week its plans for rolling a national identity scheme. The scheme will begin in November this year with introduction of identity cards for non-EEA foreign nationals. Fingerprints will be collected from foreign nationals before they are issued with a card, which will show the details of […]
An application before the High Court for habeas corpus was upheld by Mr Justice King on 4th March 2008.
Housing News On 29 February 2008 the Civil Justice Council issued a draft pre-action protocol for mortgage arrears possession claims. The protocol is intended to ensure that before proceedings are commenced all reasonable steps have been taken to avoid the necessity for litigation. Responses to the draft are sought by 23 May 2008. For a […]
News Points system The new points system was launched on 29 February 2008. According to the BIA website, the key elements of the system are: it combines more than 80 pre-existing work and study routes in to the United Kingdom into five tiers (highly skilled individuals; skilled workers with a job offer; low skilled workers […]
EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE Disability Discrimination Coleman v Attridge Law (Case C-303/06) Ms Coleman cares for her disabled son. When she sought to take time off to care for him, she was called ‘lazy’ by her employer and was accused of attempting to manipulate her working conditions. She brought claims under the Disability Discrimination Act […]
Recent Housing Law News On 21 February 2008 the Ministry of Justice published The Importance of Housing for Women Prisoners. The booklet outlines why those working with women prisoners should pay particular attention to their housing needs and offers support in seeking to maintain and gain housing on discharge from custody. For a copy of […]
Legislation Update 2008 No. 310 (C. 10) The Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 (Commencement No. 8 and Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2008 The following provisions of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 come into force on 29th February 2008 — sections 15 to 18 to the extent to which they are not […]
On 27 February 2008 the House of Lords handed-down an important judgment clarifying local authority responsibilities for homeless teenagers.
News A new report released at the Church of England’s General Synod, by The Children’s Society last week has given a snapshot of the stark reality for child asylum seekers and refugees living in Britain. More info see also refugee council news Visitors to Europe will face biometric screening and automated security checks under proposals […]
News New immigration rules appear in HC 321, many effective from 29 February 2008. They include new provisions regarding forms and procedures, extensions of stay for Tier 1 (General) Migrants (including restricting access to employment for Doctors in Training) and entry for their partners and children, and settlement for work permit holders. Illegal entrants will […]
Thousands of poker enthusiasts will have been disappointed by today's appeal court decision in R v Kelly.
An important Court of Appeal decision determines Birmingham Council's housing allocation policy to be unlawful. Jan Luba QC appeared as leading counsel for the families, instructed by Mike McIlvaney, Community Law Partnership, Birmingham.
