welcome to rightsnet ...

• Registered Rents (Increase) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010
  New statutory rule to allow for increases in rents of statutory and protected tenancies in properties that meet the housing fitness standard in Northern Ireland (02 September, 2010)
• Care Standards Act 2000 (Registration)(England) Regulations 2010
  New regulations amending the registration requirements of children's social care settings, adult social care settings and private health care. (02 September, 2010)
• Consumer Credit Counselling Service welcomes new advertising rules
  New codes introduced which make it difficult for fee-charging debt management companies to mislead public by advertising their services as 'free'. (02 September, 2010)
• Employment Law update
  Issue 87 of Garden Court Chambers' Employment Law Bulletin is now available. (01 September, 2010)
• Statistics show a property is repossessed every 14 minutes
  New figures released by Credit Action also highlight the average interest paid by each household on their total debt is over £2500 each year. (01 September, 2010)
• Employment case law round up
  Latest decisions added to the Tribunals Service website. (01 September, 2010)
• Equality Act 2010 (Disability) Regulations 2010
  New regulations that support the definition of disability in the Act by helping to define who is, and who is not, a disabled person, and supplement provisions in the Act that require reasonable adjustments to be made for disabled people. (31 August, 2010)
• Allowing councils to give housing preference to people with strong connections to the local area
  'Desire of local people' could be taken into account in councils setting their own housing allocation policies, says Housing Minister. (31 August, 2010)
• Travellers on local authority sites to be given same rights as residents on other mobile home sites
  However government looking to strengthen its powers in cases of unauthorised developments and encampments. (31 August, 2010)
• Bankruptcy restriction orders double in Scotland
  Measure available if it is felt that bankrupt's behaviour has been dishonest in some way or there has been ‘unfit’ conduct. (31 August, 2010)
• Older and disabled people face wave of care charge rises
  Coalition on Charging warns financial pressures likely to result in councils looking to decrease their costs. (31 August, 2010)
• Care Quality Commission launches consultation on new equality and human rights guidance
  New guidance for inspectors and assessors designed to help ensure robust scrutiny of human rights issues within the Commission's essential standards of quality and care. (31 August, 2010)
• Addressing perceived unfairness in current system for allocating social homes
  National Housing Federation launches consultation (31 August, 2010)
• Slight fall in homelessness applications in Scotland
  However new statistics highlight increase in number assessed as priority, to 85 per cent of applications in 2009/2010. (31 August, 2010)
• Allowing contingent or ancillary charges in consumer contracts to be assessed for unfairness
  Citizens Advice responds to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skill’s call for evidence on the Consumer Rights Directive. (31 August, 2010)
• Evaluation of the Individual Budget Pilots for Families with Disabled Children
  New research carried out for the former Department for Children Schools and Families. (31 August, 2010)
• Effectiveness of Ofwat in protecting water consumers
  Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs launches review of water industry regulator to ensure it is 'fit for future challenges'. (27 August, 2010)
• Fairness must be at the heart of budget decisions, says Equalities and Human Rights Commission
  Government must consider the effect of budget cuts on vulnerable groups and decisions should be evidence-based, fair and transparent. (27 August, 2010)
• Homelessness Prevention and Relief: England 2009-10
  New government statistics estimate that more than 165,00 cases of homelessness prevention or relief took place outside the statutory homelessness framework in England last year. (26 August, 2010)
• Equality Act 2010 and the Public sector Equality Duty
  Government Equalities Office launches consultation to seek views on proposals for draft regulations for the specific duties and the list of public bodies that will be subject to the duties. (26 August, 2010)

More news in other areas of social welfare law

• Consumer Credit Counselling Service welcomes new advertising rules
  New codes introduced which make it difficult for fee-charging debt management companies to mislead public by advertising their services as 'free'. (02 September, 2010)
• Statistics show a property is repossessed every 14 minutes
  New figures released by Credit Action also highlight the average interest paid by each household on their total debt is over £2500 each year. (01 September, 2010)
• Bankruptcy restriction orders double in Scotland
  Measure available if it is felt that bankrupt's behaviour has been dishonest in some way or there has been ‘unfit’ conduct. (31 August, 2010)
• Allowing contingent or ancillary charges in consumer contracts to be assessed for unfairness
  Citizens Advice responds to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skill’s call for evidence on the Consumer Rights Directive. (31 August, 2010)
• Effectiveness of Ofwat in protecting water consumers
  Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs launches review of water industry regulator to ensure it is 'fit for future challenges'. (27 August, 2010)
• Fairness must be at the heart of budget decisions, says Equalities and Human Rights Commission
  Government must consider the effect of budget cuts on vulnerable groups and decisions should be evidence-based, fair and transparent. (27 August, 2010)
• People with debt more likely to report more problems overall
  New research published by Money Advice Trust looks at the demographics and effects of debt, the relationship with debt and other problems and the impact of debt advice. (26 August, 2010)
• Debt, employment disputes and housing problems spiral if left unaddressed
  Citizens Advice urges government to raise service standards, and avoid hitting vulnerable hardest through rash spending cuts. (25 August, 2010)
• Clients value accessibility, timeliness and relevance of debt outreach advice
  Legal Services Research Centre publishes findings from an evaluation of debt outreach advice pilots in locations such as prisons, family centres and housing offices. (25 August, 2010)
• Education (Treatment of Student Loans on Sequestration) (Scotland) Regulations 2010
  New regulations that exclude the discharge of student loans where a debtor is sequestrated in Scotland. (24 August, 2010)
• Number of payday loan users has quadrupled since 2006
  New research by Consumer Focus highlights the need for stronger safeguards to protect consumers from spiralling payday loan debts. (23 August, 2010)
• Money Advice Trust response to rise in credit card borrowing cost despite all time low base rate
  Charity encourages lenders to place greater significance on the Bank of England base rate when pricing their products. (20 August, 2010)
• Money Advice Trust announces new 2010 Common Financial Statement ‘trigger figures’
  Updated levels for agreed discretionary monthly expenditure for Common Financial Statement license holders (17 August, 2010)
• New university students likely to owe £25,000 by the time they graduate
  Average yearly debt has increased by more than 5 per cent, according to new national survey of student finance. (13 August, 2010)
• Vital that debt advice for homeowners continues to be a funding priority
  Responding to CML reposession figures, Citizens Advice also urges lenders to continue to treat people in arrears fairly. (13 August, 2010)
• National Debtline reports large increase in unemployed people struggling with debt
  Government and financial services providers must work with advice agencies to ensure those with debt problems have access to free, expert money advice, says Money Advice Trust. (12 August, 2010)
• Qualitative study of voluntary possession and selling because of financial difficulties
  New government research brings together evidence from qualitative interviews with borrowers to inform understanding of the drivers, experiences and outcomes for households giving up home ownership. (12 August, 2010)
• Citizens Advice welcomes FSA announcement to take action on mis-selling of PPI
  Too often consumers have been mis-sold PPI policies that are far too expensive and completely unsuitable for their needs, often contributing to debt problems. (12 August, 2010)
• Council of Mortgage Lenders reports decline in mortgage arrears and reposessions
  Decrease in payment problems leads the CML to revise its forecasts for arrears and repossessions in 2010. (12 August, 2010)
• FSA publishes package of measures to protect customers in the PPI market
  Package will ensure customers are treated more fairly when complaining about Payment Protection Insurance and better when buying products, says Financial Services Authority. (11 August, 2010)

More news in Debt

• Registered Rents (Increase) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010
  New statutory rule to allow for increases in rents of statutory and protected tenancies in properties that meet the housing fitness standard in Northern Ireland (02 September, 2010)
• Statistics show a property is repossessed every 14 minutes
  New figures released by Credit Action also highlight the average interest paid by each household on their total debt is over £2500 each year. (01 September, 2010)
• Equality Act 2010 (Disability) Regulations 2010
  New regulations that support the definition of disability in the Act by helping to define who is, and who is not, a disabled person, and supplement provisions in the Act that require reasonable adjustments to be made for disabled people. (31 August, 2010)
• Allowing councils to give housing preference to people with strong connections to the local area
  'Desire of local people' could be taken into account in councils setting their own housing allocation policies, says Housing Minister. (31 August, 2010)
• Travellers on local authority sites to be given same rights as residents on other mobile home sites
  However government looking to strengthen its powers in cases of unauthorised developments and encampments. (31 August, 2010)
• Addressing perceived unfairness in current system for allocating social homes
  National Housing Federation launches consultation (31 August, 2010)
• Slight fall in homelessness applications in Scotland
  However new statistics highlight increase in number assessed as priority, to 85 per cent of applications in 2009/2010. (31 August, 2010)
• Fairness must be at the heart of budget decisions, says Equalities and Human Rights Commission
  Government must consider the effect of budget cuts on vulnerable groups and decisions should be evidence-based, fair and transparent. (27 August, 2010)
• Homelessness Prevention and Relief: England 2009-10
  New government statistics estimate that more than 165,00 cases of homelessness prevention or relief took place outside the statutory homelessness framework in England last year. (26 August, 2010)
• Equality Act 2010 and the Public sector Equality Duty
  Government Equalities Office launches consultation to seek views on proposals for draft regulations for the specific duties and the list of public bodies that will be subject to the duties. (26 August, 2010)
• Enabling households at risk of domestic violence to remain in their own homes
  Research published by Communities and Local Government considers effectiveness of multi-agency, victim centred Sanctuary Schemes. (26 August, 2010)
• Debt, employment disputes and housing problems spiral if left unaddressed
  Citizens Advice urges government to raise service standards, and avoid hitting vulnerable hardest through rash spending cuts. (25 August, 2010)
• Government cuts to Supporting People programme could hit more than 400,000 vulnerable people
  Potential 40 percent cut could lead to temporary accommodation and outreach services being axed, says National Housing Federation. (20 August, 2010)
• Chartered Institute for Housing calls for widening of rental market
  Report asks housing providers and government to provide more 'intermediate' rented housing for households on middle incomes of between £12,000 and £25,000 per year (17 August, 2010)
• Homeless Link, National Housing Federation and Sitra make joint submission to spending review
  Organisations ask government for continued and sustained investment in housing and homelessness support. (16 August, 2010)
• Vital that debt advice for homeowners continues to be a funding priority
  Responding to CML reposession figures, Citizens Advice also urges lenders to continue to treat people in arrears fairly. (13 August, 2010)
• Latest information about characteristics of clients entering Supporting People services
  Government publishes new 'Supporting People Quarterly Client Records and Outcomes' statistics. (13 August, 2010)
• Qualitative study of voluntary possession and selling because of financial difficulties
  New government research brings together evidence from qualitative interviews with borrowers to inform understanding of the drivers, experiences and outcomes for households giving up home ownership. (12 August, 2010)
• Council of Mortgage Lenders reports decline in mortgage arrears and reposessions
  Decrease in payment problems leads the CML to revise its forecasts for arrears and repossessions in 2010. (12 August, 2010)
• 64,000 people with disabilities at risk of losing their homes
  Reduction in Support for Mortgage Interest payments to bring them into line with the Bank of England average mortgage rate puts people at risk of plunging into arrears, says National Housing Federation. (10 August, 2010)

More news in Housing

• Employment Law update
  Issue 87 of Garden Court Chambers' Employment Law Bulletin is now available. (01 September, 2010)
• Employment case law round up
  Latest decisions added to the Tribunals Service website. (01 September, 2010)
• Equality Act 2010 (Disability) Regulations 2010
  New regulations that support the definition of disability in the Act by helping to define who is, and who is not, a disabled person, and supplement provisions in the Act that require reasonable adjustments to be made for disabled people. (31 August, 2010)
• Fairness must be at the heart of budget decisions, says Equalities and Human Rights Commission
  Government must consider the effect of budget cuts on vulnerable groups and decisions should be evidence-based, fair and transparent. (27 August, 2010)
• Equality Act 2010 and the Public sector Equality Duty
  Government Equalities Office launches consultation to seek views on proposals for draft regulations for the specific duties and the list of public bodies that will be subject to the duties. (26 August, 2010)
• Training and progression in the labour market
  New DWP research explores relationship between skills/training and retention and advancement in employment. (26 August, 2010)
• Call for government to move faster on plans for flexible working
  Research by Gingerbread reveals 'family friendly' jobs are rare and 83 percent of jobs advertised are not flexible. (25 August, 2010)
• Debt, employment disputes and housing problems spiral if left unaddressed
  Citizens Advice urges government to raise service standards, and avoid hitting vulnerable hardest through rash spending cuts. (25 August, 2010)
• Employment case law round up
  Latest decisions added to the Tribunals Service website. (24 August, 2010)
• Government says it is taking action to address disadvantages faced by women in workplace
  Home Office sets out measures to move pay towards equality in response to Chartered Management Institute report. (20 August, 2010)
• Equal pay for women not likely for another 57 years
  New report published by the Chartered Management Institute highlights that gender wage differential is still wide, 40 years after the Equal Pay Act. (19 August, 2010)
• Employment Law update
  Issue 86 of Garden Court Chambers' Employment Law Bulletin is now available. (19 August, 2010)
• Employment case law round up
  Latest decisions added to the Tribunals Service website. (18 August, 2010)
• Workers could lose right for time to train
  Power introduced just four months ago could be cut as part of government review aiming to reduce the burden on businesses (11 August, 2010)
• Number of people in employment rises over last quarter
  However, increase largely driven by a rise in employment of non UK nationals, reports DWP (11 August, 2010)
• Older workers ‘trapped’ in long-term unemployment
  Number of unemployed workers aged 50 plus has hit a ten-year high after increasing by over 50 per cent in last year, says Age UK. (11 August, 2010)
• Employment case law round up
  Latest decisions added to the Tribunals Service website. (10 August, 2010)
• Equality Act 2010 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2010
  New statutory instrument that provides for the coming into force of specified provisions of the 2010 Act, including in relation to the definition of 'disability'; the duty to make 'reasonable adjustments'; and exceptions to the equality of terms provisions. (09 August, 2010)
• Government urged to consider banning strikes in essential public services
  Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development says ministers should consider tightening laws on strike ballots and consider high stake options if confronted with strikes in key industries. (06 August, 2010)
• Employment Law update
  Issue 85 of Garden Court Chambers' Employment Law Bulletin is now available. (05 August, 2010)

More news in Employment

• Care Standards Act 2000 (Registration)(England) Regulations 2010
  New regulations amending the registration requirements of children's social care settings, adult social care settings and private health care. (02 September, 2010)
• Equality Act 2010 (Disability) Regulations 2010
  New regulations that support the definition of disability in the Act by helping to define who is, and who is not, a disabled person, and supplement provisions in the Act that require reasonable adjustments to be made for disabled people. (31 August, 2010)
• Older and disabled people face wave of care charge rises
  Coalition on Charging warns financial pressures likely to result in councils looking to decrease their costs. (31 August, 2010)
• Care Quality Commission launches consultation on new equality and human rights guidance
  New guidance for inspectors and assessors designed to help ensure robust scrutiny of human rights issues within the Commission's essential standards of quality and care. (31 August, 2010)
• Evaluation of the Individual Budget Pilots for Families with Disabled Children
  New research carried out for the former Department for Children Schools and Families. (31 August, 2010)
• Fairness must be at the heart of budget decisions, says Equalities and Human Rights Commission
  Government must consider the effect of budget cuts on vulnerable groups and decisions should be evidence-based, fair and transparent. (27 August, 2010)
• Equality Act 2010 and the Public sector Equality Duty
  Government Equalities Office launches consultation to seek views on proposals for draft regulations for the specific duties and the list of public bodies that will be subject to the duties. (26 August, 2010)
• Disability charities threaten judicial review of government’s Budget proposals
  Treasury has not considered impact on disabled people, say Disability Alliance, Disability Law Service and The Disability Charities Consortium. (26 August, 2010)
• Enabling households at risk of domestic violence to remain in their own homes
  Research published by Communities and Local Government considers effectiveness of multi-agency, victim centred Sanctuary Schemes. (26 August, 2010)
• Government cuts to Supporting People programme could hit more than 400,000 vulnerable people
  Potential 40 percent cut could lead to temporary accommodation and outreach services being axed, says National Housing Federation. (20 August, 2010)
• Disability groups call for government cooperation on social care
  New report by Voluntary Organisations Disability Group highlights the importance of the government working with the voluntary sector to improve social care and save money. (13 August, 2010)
• Equality Act 2010 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2010
  New statutory instrument that provides for the coming into force of specified provisions of the 2010 Act, including in relation to the definition of 'disability'; the duty to make 'reasonable adjustments'; and exceptions to the equality of terms provisions. (09 August, 2010)
• Four in ten councils have missed key target in social care transformation programme
  New report by Opportunity Links highlights variation in progress of local councils in delivering joined up, universal information and advice services. (05 August, 2010)
• PM, R (on the application of) v Hertfordshire County Council
  New High Court judgment that considers whether a local authority was right to withdraw accommodation and support provided under the Children Act 1989 as a result of an Immigration Tribunal having held that the appellant was over 18. (05 August, 2010)
• Government announces plan to refresh national Carers Strategy
  Minister for Care Services seeks views on the key priorities that will have the greatest impact on improving carers' lives in the next four years. (29 July, 2010)
• Care Quality Commission publishes annual report for 2009/2010
  Priorities include making sure care is centred on people's needs and protects their rights. (28 July, 2010)
• Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Miscellaneous Consequential Amendments) Order 2010
  New regulations issued in relation to the repeal in England of the existing registration system for health and adult social care providers under the Care Standards Act 2000. (27 July, 2010)
• DWP Under-Secretary of State makes statement on future of the Independent Living Fund
  Coalition government is committed to ensuring severely disabled people receive the support they need, says Lord Freud. (27 July, 2010)
• G v E & Ors
  New Court of Appeal judgment that considers whether Article 5 of the ECHR, that relates to 'The Right to Liberty and Security', places conditions which have to be satisfied before a person lacking capacity under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 can be detained in his or her best interests. (27 July, 2010)
• Long-term future of Independent Living Fund to be settled in 2010 comprehensive spending review
  Decision to be made on whether Fund remains a separate government agency or whether councils take on responsibility for administering payments for disabled people as part of personal budgets. (26 July, 2010)

More news in Community care