Project status: Complete
Download the report The problem The issue of liability for psychiatric illness following negligence is unsatisfactory. Some argue that that it should have the same principles that apply to physical illness. Others that it should be abandoned all together. Claims for psychiatric illness brought about through negligence had gained increased exposure following the disaster at … Read more >
Project status: Complete
We consulted on this project in April 1999 and published our final report in 2002, along with a draft Bill. Our final report made recommendations for reforming and simplifying the law of fraud, by repealing the eight offences of deception created by the Theft Acts 1968–96 and abolishing the common law crime of conspiracy to … Read more >
Project status: Complete
The “effective prosecution of multiple offending” project emerged from our work in Legislating the Criminal Code: Fraud and Deception. Our final report makes recommendations for changes to criminal practice and procedure to facilitate the more effective prosecution of those who have committed multiple offences. It covers offences of fraudulent trading, continuous offences (cases where there … Read more >
Project status: Complete
This discussion paper examines the property rights of those who share homes. It covers a broad range of people – not only “couples”, married or unmarried, but also friends, relatives and others who may be living together for reasons of companionship or care and support.
Project status: Complete
The aim of this project was to review the law (legislation, case law and common law rules) relating to compulsory purchase of land and compensation, with particular regard to: the implementation of compulsory purchase orders the principles for the assessment of compensation on the acquisition of land compensation where compulsory purchase orders are not proceeded with compensation for … Read more >
Project status: Complete
This purpose of this project was to bring up to date the Third Parties (Rights against Insurers) Act 1930 and make the law more effective. The 1930 Act did not work as well as it should have. Its basic operation in the context of insolvency provoked criticism over a number of years from academics, lawyers, … Read more >
Project status: Complete
The aim of this project was to review the law governing trustees’ powers to invest trust funds in default of the inclusion of express powers of investment in the will or trust instrument, and to consider, for England and Wales, a range of reforms, intended to facilitate more effective trust administration, including: collective delegation by trustees … Read more >
Project status: Complete
The project reviewed the legal framework relating to taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) across England and Wales with a view to making it simpler and more modern. Taxis and PHVs are an important part of local transport. They operate in highly regulated markets where safety and quality control are paramount. Licensing covers key areas … Read more >
Project status: Pre-project
In our consultation paper we propose the repeal of a series of statutory provisions relating to taxation law which span the years 1952 to 2010, and which have become obsolete or spent through the passage of time, or because of subsequent statutory intervention. In all, we recommend the repeal of portions of some 32 Acts … Read more >
Project status: Pre-project
In the 18th Statute Law Repeals report, which was published in January 2008, we made several recommendations for the repeal of laws relating to taxes or duties, including stamp and customs duties. In most cases, the Acts were obsolete because the tax or duty that they imposed was abolished without the legislation itself being wholly repealed. Several … Read more >