Official Opening of Aberdeen’s New Court
Last week saw the official opening of Aberdeen’s Civil Justice Centre and Commercial Court, in a ceremony that was attended by Scotland’s most senior judge, the Lord President and the Cabinet Secretary of Justice Kenny MacAskill MSP. The new court is located in the building previously occupied by the Justice of the Peace Court. According […]
Confidence High in Scottish Property Market
People in Scotland are more confident about buying property compared to people in rest of the UK, despite the prospect of interest rates rising. These were the findings of the latest Halifax Quarterly Housing Market Confidence Tracker Report – the information for which was collected by surveying almost 2,000 people across the United Kingdom. The […]
Reforming Insurance Contract Law
A bill has been introduced to the UK Parliament that will update the 100-year-old rules governing contracts between businesses and insurers. According to the UK Government, the Insurance Bill will introduce a more modern legal regime that will benefit both insurers and their business customers by increasing transparency and certainty over the rules that govern […]
First-time Buyer Numbers Continue to Rise
The number of first-time buyers in the UK has continued to rise, and in the first six months of 2014 they reached their highest level since 2007, according to the Halifax. The company’s bi-annual First-Time Buyer Review revealed there were an estimated 144,5001 first- time buyers in the first six months of 2014, an increase […]
Increase in Private Sector Evictions
There has been a 38% increase in issues caused by people without rent arrears being threatened with eviction from a private sector rented home, the Citizens Advice has said. If they are evicted, tenants have no choice but to find hundreds of pounds for a deposit and advance rent plus an average of £350 in […]
Offshore Worker Safety Affected by ‘Macho Bullying Culture in the Oil and Gas Industry’
Serious doubts over the safety of offshore rig workers in the oil and gas industries have been raised by a report published the Commons Transport Committee. The Committee’s examination and report, which followed an accident in which four Super Puma helicopter passengers were killed, refers to “troubling evidence about a macho bullying culture in the […]
Does Surrogacy Entitle Mothers to Maternity Leave?
Whether surrogacy entitles mothers to maternity leave has long been a challenging and emotional question in employment law. A recent Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruling offers clarity—though the decision may disappoint many intended parents. The UK takes a different approach to surrogacy rights. Discover the key differences now. The CJEU Ruling […]
Top Cyclists Want Presumed Liability Law
Two top cyclists, Silas Goldsworthy and Martin Williamson, have given their support to the Road Share campaign – which calls for presumed liability to be introduced in Scotland’s civil law to better protect cyclists involved in road accidents. If presumed liability was to be introduced in Scottish civil law, a hierarchy of responsibility would be […]
Parliament Passes Buildings Bill
A new Buildings Bill, which was introduced by the Scottish Government to allow local councils to recover debts they have incurred when taking on enforcement work on dangerous or defective buildings, has been passed by the Scottish Parliament. Local authorities have a statutory obligation to deal with dangerous buildings, and can take action on defective […]
Aberdeen Firm Sentenced for Worker’s Fall
An engineering services company has been fined for safety failings after a worker was injured when he fell from the trailer bed of a lorry at its premises in Aberdeen. The 61-year-old worked as a storeman and driver for the firm and had just secured a load in the back of the lorry using ratchet […]
