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25 June 2009
Issue: 7375 / Categories: Legal News
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Less is more

Government

There are too many laws and too many policy initiatives being launched, according to MPs.

A report by the Commons Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) into the state of government in Britain, published last week, concludes that many aspects of Britain’s governing structure and principles work well.
However, PASC warns there are too many ministers, which has resulted in an excessive number of initiatives being launched and laws being introduced. PASC urges government to concentrate less on responding to short-term political pressures and more on ensuring good basic administration. It suggests prime ministers appoint smaller governments, pass fewer new laws, and leave ministers in their posts for longer.
Tony Wright MP, Committee chair, says: “Now more than ever, there needs to be a wholesale change in the political culture to arrest the decline of public trust in government.

“In thinking about the nature of good government, we have gone back to first principles to propose a number of reforms to how Britain is governed. These are designed to encourage tighter, more focused government, and a stronger emphasis on achieving good basic administration and high standards in public life.”

Issue: 7375 / Categories: Legal News
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Nikki Bowker, Devonshires

NLJ Career Profile: Nikki Bowker, Devonshires

Nikki Bowker, head of litigation and dispute resolution at Devonshires, on career resilience, diversity in law and channelling Elle Woods when the pressure is on

Ellisons—Sarah Osborne

Ellisons—Sarah Osborne

Leasehold enfranchisement specialist joins residential property team

DWF—Chris Air

DWF—Chris Air

Firm strengthens commercial team in Manchester with partner appointment

NEWS
The High Court’s refusal to recognise a prolific sperm donor as a child’s legal parent has highlighted the risks of informal conception arrangements, according to Liam Hurren, associate at Kingsley Napley, in NLJ this week
The Court of Appeal’s decision in Mazur may have settled questions around litigation supervision, but the profession should not simply ‘move on’, argues Jennifer Coupland, CEO of CILEX, in this week's NLJ
A simple phrase like ‘subject to references’ may not protect employers as much as they think. Writing in NLJ this week, Ian Smith, barrister and emeritus professor of employment law at UEA, analyses recent employment cases showing how conditional job offers can still create binding contracts

An engagement ring may symbolise romance, but the courts remain decidedly practical about who keeps it after a split, writes Mark Pawlowski, barrister and professor emeritus of property law at the University of Greenwich, in this week's NLJ

Medical reporting organisation fees have become ‘the final battleground’ in modern costs litigation, says Kris Kilsby, costs lawyer at Peak Costs and council member of the Association of Costs Lawyers, in this week's NLJ
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