The government is pushing ahead with plans to allow the process known as fracking to be undertaken below Britons’ homes without their permission. The law has proven hugely controversial, with ministers today rejecting 40,000 objections to the changes.
Labour Promises to Crack Down on Sweatshops
Yvette Cooper, the Labour Shadow Home Secretary, has pledged to reduce the amount of employers subjecting staff to unacceptable employment conditions, popularly likened to sweatshops.
Employment Tribunal Figures Show Precipitous Drop
Recent government figures have shown that the number of employer tribunal receipts has continued to fall for the third consecutive quarter. The decline, which is associated with the introduction of employment tribunal fees in July 2013, has been the source of mounting concern amongst legal experts who fear that fees restrict access to justice.
EU States Pressure for Quicker Data Protection Legislation
Delegations from 16 EU member states have called upon the EU to act swiftly on the protection of personal data. The message, which involved delegations from the UK, Germany and France, was conveyed in a joint declaration that was adopted by the overwhelming majority, calling upon European legislators to adopt the reform to personal data protection by 2015.
Court Ruling Throws Criminal Legal Aid Plans into Doubt
Government plans for a £220 million reduction in legal aid have been left on unsure footing after a high court ruled deemed the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) consultation process to be “so unfair as to amount to illegality.”