Project status: Complete
A preliminary investigation to clarify the issues relating to defamation on the internet. We were asked to provide preliminary advice to Government on whether the existing law causes difficulties for online publishers, internet service providers, their customers or others, with a view to informing possible further work.
Project status: Complete
In this project, we considered whether changes were needed in the law relating to inquiries undertaken by local authorities. In February 2000 Sir Ronald Waterhouse published the results of the inquiry he chaired into the abuse of children in council homes in North Wales. He was concerned there might be circumstances where local authorities might feel … Read more >
Project status: Complete
A project to review the need for reform of two distinct but related rules: the rule against double jeopardy, and the rule that the Crown cannot appeal against an acquittal even if it results from an erroneous ruling by the judge.
Project status: Complete
Companies often grant charges and other security interests over their assets to secure loans. This project looked at how such security interests should be registered. It also considered how to resolve conflicts between different secured lenders and between lenders and buyers. The project We presented our final report on this project to Government on 31 … Read more >
Project status: Complete
Download the report Download the summary The problem A conservation covenant is an agreement between a landowner and a body like a charity or public body to do or not do something on their land for a conservation purpose. This might be, for example, an agreement to maintain woodland and allow public access to it, … Read more >
Project status: Complete
This project reviewed the law governing the criminal liability of those who agree, or attempt, to commit offences. The project We published our report “Conspiracy and Attempts”, including a draft Bill, on 10 December 2009. The report follows our consultation paper, which we published on 10 October 2007. In our report we make recommendations on statutory conspiracy to: … Read more >
Project status: Complete
The project This project updated and implemented a previous report on unfair terms, but only for contracts between consumers and businesses. In 2005, the Law Commission and Scottish Law Commission made recommendations to reform the law of unfair terms. The report and associated consultation paper can be found here. In May 2012, the Department for … Read more >
Project status: Complete
The Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission recommended the creation of a new consumer statute setting out what a consumer should tell their insurer before taking out insurance. The law under the Marine Insurance Act 1906 requires consumers to volunteer information about everything which a “prudent insurer” would consider relevant. We think this duty … Read more >
Project status: Complete
The regulations form part of a package of measures to clarify consumer law. These measures will draw on three joint reports by the Law Commission and Scottish Law Commission. Read more about our consumer rights work and the legislation. This is a joint project with the Scottish Law Commission. It was formerly referred to as the … Read more >
Project status: Complete
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 forms part of a package of measures to clarify consumer law. These measures draw on three joint reports by the Law Commission and Scottish Law Commission.Read more about our consumer rights work and the Bill. The problem Currently, UK consumers have a legal “right to reject” faulty goods. This means a … Read more >