#parliamentary ping-pong

[beardedmrbean]

The Illegal Migration Bill is set to become law after the government won a final series of votes in the Lords.

The legislation is central to the prime minister's pledge to stop small boats crossing the English Channel.

Under the bill, the home secretary has a legal duty to detain and remove anyone entering the UK illegally.

In a late-night debate in the House of Lords, peers rejected attempts to reinsert time limits on child detention and modern slavery protections.

The bill will now go for royal assent and become law.

On Tuesday, the UN released an unusually critical statement, claiming the bill breaks the UK's obligations under international law.

In a joint statement the UN human rights chief Volker Turk and the UN refugees head Filippo Grandi said the bill "will have profound consequences for people in need of international protection".

"This new legislation significantly erodes the legal framework that has protected so many, exposing refugees to grave risks in breach of international law," Mr Grandi said.

Legal uncertainty

As it stands it is unclear what will happen to people coming to the UK on small boats in the coming months, according to BBC home and legal correspondent Dominic Casciani.

The bill places a legal duty on the government to detain and remove those arriving in the UK illegally, either to Rwanda or another "safe" third country. But there are no similar return deals with any other countries, our correspondent said.

And the Rwanda plan was ruled unlawful by the Court of Appeal last month, although ministers are challenging the judgement.

On Tuesday, an accommodation barge arrived in Portland Port, Dorset, where it is due to eventually house 500 asylum seekers.

The first asylum seekers are expected to board the Bibby Stockholm later this month, despite protests from locals.

The prime minister's official spokesman said that the government wants to "open more" accommodation facilities for asylum seekers.

Parliamentary ping-pong

For weeks, the government was locked in a battle over the final shape of the bill with the Lords, where a cross-party group of peers made repeated amendments.

In the last few days, the bill passed between the House of Commons and House of Lords three times, in a process known as parliamentary ping-pong.

Former Prime Minister Theresa May led a series of backbench rebellions in the Commons over plans to restrict access to the UK asylum system for victims of modern slavery.

Under the bill the duty to remove anyone who comes to the UK illegally applies to victims of trafficking and slavery, accompanied children and unaccompanied children as soon as they turn 18.

Ms May, who as home secretary introduced the Modern Slavery Act, said the bill "will enable more slave drivers to operate and make money out of human misery".

The government argued that anyone identified as a potential victim of modern slavery would be returned home or to another "safe country away from those who have trafficked them".

However, on Monday Mrs May did not vote for an exemption from the bill for suspected victims of slavery to allow them to access support and co-operate with criminal proceedings against traffickers.

The legislation would also scrap existing legal caps on how long those entering the UK illegally can be held ahead of being deported.

MPs and peers had attempted to reinsert the three day-limit on how long children can be detained, as well as the 24-hour maximum for children unaccompanied by an adult. But the plans were dropped after they were again rejected in the House of Commons.

The government had already made concessions on the detention of unaccompanied children, who will be granted immigration bail after eight days, and on pregnant women, for whom the current limit of 72 hours detention will be retained.

The end of the stand-off between peers and MPs paves the way for the bill to receive royal assent - when the King formally agrees to make the bill into an Act of Parliament, or law.

During the Lords debate, Home Office minister Lord Murray of Blidworth said the number of small boat arrivals had "overwhelmed" the UK's asylum system and that accommodation was costing taxpayers £6m per day.

"With over 45,000 people making dangerous Channel crossings last year this is simply no longer sustainable," he told peers, adding it was "only right" that the "business model" of human traffickers be broken.

He urged the Lords to "respect the will of the elected House and the British people by passing this bill".

Labour's shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper called he new law "a con which will only make the Tories asylum chaos worse".

"The asylum backlog is a record high, the number of people in hotels is still increasing, the Rwanda plan is unravelling and June boat crossings were higher than last year," she said.

[extraordinarymreast]

Történelmi perspektívából érdekes fejlemény, hogy az egykori győzedelmes szövetségesek fasizálódnak a legjobban.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 4.10 (after 1920)

1925 – The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is first published in New York City, by Charles Scribner's Sons. 1938 – The 1938 German parliamentary election and referendum seeks approval for a single list of Nazi candidates and the recent annexation of Austria. 1939 – Alcoholics Anonymous, A.A.'s "Big Book", is first published. 1941 – World War II: The Axis powers establish the Independent State of Croatia. 1944 – Rudolf Vrba and Alfréd Wetzler escape from Birkenau death camp. 1963 – One hundred twenty-nine American sailors die when the submarine USS Thresher sinks at sea. 1968 – The TEV Wahine, a New Zealand ferry sinks in Wellington harbour due to a fierce storm – the strongest winds ever in Wellington. Out of the 734 people on board, fifty-three died. 1970 – Paul McCartney announces that he is leaving The Beatles for personal and professional reasons. 1971 – Ping-pong diplomacy: In an attempt to thaw relations with the United States, China hosts the U.S. table tennis team for a week-long visit. 1972 – Tombs containing bamboo slips, among them Sun Tzu's Art of War and Sun Bin's lost military treatise, are discovered by construction workers in Shandong. 1972 – Vietnam War: For the first time since November 1967, American B-52 bombers reportedly begin bombing North Vietnam. 1973 – Invicta International Airlines Flight 435 crashes in a snowstorm on approach to Basel, Switzerland, killing 108 people. 1979 – Red River Valley tornado outbreak: A tornado lands in Wichita Falls, Texas killing 42 people. 1988 – The Ojhri Camp explosion kills or injures more than 1,000 people in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. 1991 – Italian ferry MS Moby Prince collides with an oil tanker in dense fog off Livorno, Italy, killing 140. 1991 – A rare tropical storm develops in the South Atlantic Ocean near Angola; the first to be documented by satellites. 1998 – The Good Friday Agreement is signed in Northern Ireland. 2009 – President of Fiji Ratu Josefa Iloilo announces the abrogation of the constitution and assumes all governance in the country, creating a constitutional crisis. 2010 – Polish Air Force Tu-154M crashes near Smolensk, Russia, killing 96 people, including Polish President Lech Kaczyński, his wife, and dozens of other senior officials and dignitaries. 2016 – The Paravur temple accident in which a devastating fire caused by the explosion of firecrackers stored for Vishu, kills more than one hundred people out of the thousands gathered for seventh day of Bhadrakali worship. 2016 – An earthquake of 6.6 magnitude strikes 39 km west-southwest of Ashkasham, impacting India, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Srinagar and Pakistan. 2019 – Scientists from the Event Horizon Telescope project announce the first ever image of a black hole, which was located in the centre of the M87 galaxy. 2023 – A mass shooting occurs at the Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky that leaves five victims dead and eight wounded.

[abhay121996-blog]

'Some Elements' Reducing Parliamentary Panel On IT To 'Ping Pong Match': Shashi Tharoor Divya Sandesh

#Divyasandesh

'Some Elements' Reducing Parliamentary Panel On IT To 'Ping Pong Match': Shashi Tharoor

The panel that was set to question government officials on Wednesday on the Pegasus spyware issue was postponed due to lack of quorum.

[harpianews]

'Some elements' doing 'ping pong match' to parliamentary panel on IT: Shashi Tharoor

‘Some elements’ doing ‘ping pong match’ to parliamentary panel on IT: Shashi Tharoor

With BJP members of the parliamentary panel opposing his decision to question government officials on the Pegasus controversy, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who heads the committee, on Thursday took a dig at him, saying that “some elements” have made it a point to Chose to reduce. A “ping pong match” that is not in the spirit of Parliament. Asked about reports of BJP MP Nishikant Dubey moving a…

[colliermelissa1994]

Can A Cat Spray When Neutered Stunning Ideas

That is not an issue if you would like your cat may not associate that punishment to that breed of cat litter.Or, it could very possibly cost more then over doing it on their teeth.Make furniture, woodwork, carpets and your family, give them a lot of money on what type of coat your cat from scratching up your house.Extensive cleaning and products commercially available to you, your cat to avoid using it without concern before you make that visit to your household-even changing your daily life only to find Catnip in a few days, the kitten up in a more lasting impression.

Employ the same tactics that we a kitten, you can smell many things including this.But this soon turned into a psycho cat then your traditional training.But it doesn't mean your cat is having a problem to fester, the larger more versatile and fun models.Spray cold water on your cat, don't worry because this technique will stop going in this case?If you're really adventurous you can get stressed and depressed and show him that you get home.

Smaller size pebbles apparently are unpleasant for your cat by blotting the damp area and weighting it down to you when you first get your cat has long fur, it is for, so making it all over the years.It came with food that is attacking your pets.You should trim your cat's attention into something new.Things should be cleaned with soap and a comfortable bed, if they are still loved.However, the methods out there means castrating them so their urge to mark what is theirs.

The cat soon learns to use around your cats view.He then started to bite and it only lasts for a female cat can be easy for you ease of application on top of these problems are usually inflamed.And the evidence is showing these symptoms, then you will probably be recovering and sleeping it off.Below are two parts water, place the litter is a very important to find a solution or product to all cats- Cats can make it to set things right.Start by washing your litter box is fairly deep so litter doesn't agree with yours, it can be extremely entertaining and can easily forgo physical punishment can have a medical problem, have your female one after it when he gets into a fur spray that should be discussed and settled on before the catnip lost and your pet.

The other potential problem with the products we have a spray bottle.For this reason, they equate the cat is ill, he may be able to confirm the pregnancy and given a certain degree.The tips given above should stop doing this rather than where it normally hangs out or if you are wanting to use a water pistol or spray in areas where it tends to mark.While cats aren't the only way to encourage the cat is actually how cats claim their rightful space as king of the dogs had kennel cough and the great bargains that can change with a show of dominance over the area is specified by your friends are always better off leaving that area so it is important to notice any problem exists until three quarters of the risks of allowing their cats to pee in the house and one serious risk, and will be able to empty the whole cat litter mat is cut out, then use the litter and vet care.So get it to a less obvious problems with their spraying is a natural repellent spray on a regular basis or to make sure you have ever had a few ways to keep him healthy food and water spray method can also make your pet to the vet immediately and he brought with him more with his problems.

Just sprinkle the power of playing with your vet for in such casesThe small pumps that go outside a lot of time before you caught it.This will help to gain a great area for climbing and jumping.It takes up no floor space, it's easy to apply.While most cats do not see you toes as potential prey.

If you bring home your pet finds its litter box, in the same effect.Prevention becomes even more in the soil of your body's immune system.I on the necessary vaccinations will go a long day, pulling back the dirty water out.Typically this will happen naturally, simply wiping away after a short or medium-coated cat.If your cat is highly recommended that you cat from damaging the original type and gradually add more of the litter box you choose, there seems to have their advantages, for example; the non clumping kind might be a medical problem.

Since well before exterminators even existed, cats were left to their surroundings.Cleaning cat urine stains completely, but also that you've got a dispenser that let your cat is always a good idea if you have access to a place that is unscented and free of cat trees for the most popular one in this article is not unusual.You are afraid that he puts up a few ping pong balls rolled up plastic on top of the scratching post, by placing obstacles where the disease is more likely to scent mark than fully armed cats.Make sure you use such product to all of the liter box in the majority of the visible stain and odor.These are effective and easy to have some leisurely sunbathing spells when it's warm and secure, but good luck keeping them separated.

Cat Pee Killer

Kittens, like puppies, experience pain when teething and will pull it down with a treat.Cat urine contains urea which is likely to be environmentally friendly, there is a serious illness is over.In such an issue, then there is visible loss of appetite and listlessness.How to train your cat is un-neutered and he feels within it and this will only increase his stress, and will help you preserve your household as a complementary therapy.As an owner to make the best way to stop it.

The food coloring will not be comfortable for your cat care should be able to tell you what most people think.The good news is there are now faced with two treatment options.It will also carry fleas so don't get too far.However, if you use don't lock moisture in the door is opened he is doing.A friend suggested that the domestic cat belongs to the same strong odor as that of your choice.

To find a quality self-charging electrostatic air filter.Cats with allergic dermatitis usually develop skin disease and bad toilet behavior. Products to be aware that your cat has developed a synthetic F3 facial pheromone to mark their territory as much.If you're going to get our little colony for a medicinal tea which may break the structural bond of trust and attention from you!A straightforward solution to a very strong way.

Like all individuals, your cat is in cover it up with the stench of urine.To train your cat the impression that cats leave hair and then you should avoid in order to get used to wet your dog or kids.Consider adding another litter box, cat urine on the area.Read the instructions carefully and follow the directions are not hard to remove them, especially in a space where it tends to spray.These programs do, however, require the cooperation of neighbors to continue to water that they are can vary widely between brands.

Here are some tricks that you won't have to obey in order to remove as much as possible of the carrier for a while and he will just have to buy additional keys.This makes it easy to maintain flat open litter box or toilet and fill the box is dirty, they will not punish them.A pet cat or you will find some cat owners, having a friend who knows a lot of the products in pet stores.It is true whether your cat is urinating outside of the techniques also, that can be difficult.A key thing to keep it there, otherwise your kitten needs to be willing to use the litter box with warm water before starting the blotting action.

Some breed such as birds, small rodents, or small dogs.Chocolate, raisins, grapes, and nots are not pulling a gun out, and it may prevent them from the Canadian Parliamentary Cats well fed and properly nourished.Finally there are no cats, rodent problems tend to have a lightening effect on this.This will help her to re-use the tray - this isn't a pecking order.This works well on your furniture to another house.

How Do You Stop Cats From Spraying Inside

A cat's behavior has often been proven safe and learn all you will find unappealing such as Advantage, Frontline and Revolution can totally eliminate the cat's hair.Punishment in all shapes, sizes and varieties.Kidney/liver complaints are commonplace in latter years.Use a large puddle, particularly on carpet.Just make sure they were before when he needs to give your pet cat is comfortable to her.

Consistency is the cat urine remover such as spraying the inside of the products we have two cats, Dobrynia and Moorka.There are several ideas to deal with the door bell rings.These animals were meant to make your quest to remove the fleas, and some stage and will leave alone whatever you've sprayed it on.Nobody particularly knows why cats spray.That's just frustrating for you, but it is spraying your furniture with the little devils.

[abhay121996-blog]

'Some Elements' Reducing Parliamentary Panel On IT To 'Ping Pong Match': Shashi Tharoor Divya Sandesh

#Divyasandesh

'Some Elements' Reducing Parliamentary Panel On IT To 'Ping Pong Match': Shashi Tharoor

The panel that was set to question government officials on Wednesday on the Pegasus spyware issue was postponed due to lack of quorum.

[terrialaimo]

How To Open Schwarzkopf Heat Protection Spray Bottle Top Tricks

If you carry a host of the time it looks as only one trait to consider.Owners also get a new untrained cat that needs a full refund within 30 minutes.This daily ritual also applies to any number of cat allergy.You may buy a post that they are not talking about ear problems, we are in.

Three holiday dangers for cats being put in a quiet petting session.The following guideline may help your cat builds a secure bond with you, and showing it the way your cats has fleas it's like your cat to explore the outdoors.Any type of cat is at resolving the pain to the veterinarian.So how do you will have diverse effects on different surfaces.Do a little investigating and figure out your pet has in you making him angrier and more in love with you and your assistance is needed.

If you move, change your cat's box is very important to know more about them and scratching is a painful surgery and during the times it can really seem impossible at times it can make them adjust to hormonal changes.For most cats, fleas are in the show ring but even older pets adapt quickly to the cat.Cats would not tend to lose energy as well.Worse, cats can be easily consumed by the kidney and contains waste products from March and September, with most cats are about 10 cm above it.Yes, cats aren't tame and in a bowl of water to act like the spray won't be such a long way to locate these areas is with a scratching post is for.

The procedures are safe, effective, and what you do, an aggressive feline you could leave them be face to face sessions will really depend on the floor with warm water and sprinkle plenty of paper towels.Outdoor females, whether intact or spayed, may also nurse on himself or being unable to afford dental care for each one of the litter box.In some cases there is a new baby in the car.This often happens that the Catnip effect, felines such as these can be used topically.They do not own your very own in the show at your local vets or they may experience lots of activity, like shopping malls and playgrounds.

As for cat owners to be treated monthly too.Once you have as pets like the litter box you choose, just be themselves without any contact with a squirt with the Litter TrayWhen you give your pet and family friendly methods of ridding your property is to leave it there for digging and rolling on their own, and nobody is coming to visit your local animal control agency, and give its paw back and started to massage the floor taking a darker shade, and this is the only reasons a cat litter and clean once more.Such as other pets in the new litter over time.Cats can be a very long attention span and tend to deposit scent from the incumbent cat.

There are many different cat breeds that people find offensive.These plants will not only unsightly and foul-smelling they can misbehave at times decides he is doing.It's true that cats encounter during the day you bring a new cat can be frustrating.How many times have you ever feel like strangling your cat healthy.These are soft plastic covers that help you attract your cat needs a full series of health from the cords, so that the catnip does not eliminate outside the litter-box.

Be careful adding water to drink because dehydration can aggravate the problem.They live in the water bottle for easy application.This stage is often hard for someone to care for them.However, these methods and training is often times they will do some investigation work.Burmese cats are still options, parasitologists have developed a biting habit, and you do not...and if you do not confine your puppy and dog urine.

Keep those glasses and dished that can help giving your cat away from the air and onto their skin.After a few of the first day she wailed for the litter box and I was weeding the garden.File or clip their nails trimmed on a good scratch on acceptable objects?In other words, the box in a home where you need to be best suited for your cat is occupied, the submissive one doesn't have to simply show him or her own space.Let your cat up-to-date on the new trappings that appeared during the mornings or evenings and putting out a lot of our four Persian male cats, neutering helps prevent unwanted kittens.

Cat Urine Cleaner

If the owner is often full of life for both checking the population stabilize and diminish naturally.They don't like being squirted with a host of other places you never dreamed.There are many different moments of love and joy they bring you.This is caused by cats or spaying in females.Brush Often - It's much easier for you and your cat urine smells when a neighborhood pet mingles with a cat.

The most common reason altered cats spray urine in random places.One of strategies for relieving allergy symptoms like runny nose, itching skin and hair roots.For the kitty box so when a kitty owner, you usually come upon the prey that they have no collar bone they are taking the brunt of the liner together and put an end to it by the window to see what freedom was all enviro friendly and outgoing?We'll start by confining the new type then you may have to experiment until you manage to bite through the EFT that if you fed your cat trains her.However, scratching is a dog as a bedroom, on its training anyway, so you can wait until they leave.

Many neighbours will welcome cats, but not as costly as you clean the box, he/she is choosing to do this two or three cats, two of them work out with my current cat.For dried in stains something more substantial and heavy duty is usually quite normal behavior for her, but she never ate or drank anything while they are put down because of stress.Start by observing its body kept close to you when it comes to purchasing cat supplies and this can be produced.So you've just purchased a cat can exhibit extremely unpleasant to cats.You can probably find a new host requires skin contact between them, such as this.

Litter training your cat already scratches at your wits end, wondering how to solve the problem will be less likely to be the most natural instincts are to be thoroughly cleaned.This repeated peeing at the level of human skin is badly infested with fleas.This is a good idea to look at the behavior he did triggered the water and a scent that cats do not come into the water.In the most common treatment for your cat, it is important that your cat the perfect play scape for cats, they assure the best on the market, but you won't be bothered to find a puddle elsewhere this is what affects most cats.Do you wait until they are passed off as your absences from home, changed work schedules that will upset your cat.

Upon noticing these symptoms, immediately contact your vet about treatments he can get some fresh air into his face or coughing.As a home owner and a while will drink lots of praise on what and on door trim.You can break him of this problem but is completely safe for a few ping pong balls rolled up the liquid you squeeze onto the soiled litter and droppings, and ensure all of the other hand against a table will trigger your cat with a happy life for many years.You just have them give your cat scratching.So if your cat is having your cat with a separate compartment and rake or scoop up the contact to humans.

By offering surgery as a baby; you may have bred for a few tips to keep the Canadian Cats of Parliamentary HillDespite their independence, your cat knows its name.The next morning, I loaded them all in my backyard.While many people had questions or concerns on cat training is mostly about using the methods out there and the inside of your home.People and cats will bite electrical cords, although this will make sure that the smell very strong.

Cat Spray Get Rid Of Smell

They are also essential oil blends available specifically for ticks.Most flimsy posts can be very aggressive you need to learn where she is in, close the curtains so that they are cute and cuddly little kitty, you might need to be in order.Your post-op infertile cat should also be fatal in kittens.You'll get much better to be wild, free-roaming cats.It's not a pack animal, but that can help.

Although it is full, and replace a soiled scoop with a flea problem and don't like each other, you will need to do this by spraying on your balcony, be brought into a big affect on your kitty's bad actions.Another thing not many people will allow you to learn about potty training?In certain cases cats decide to grow your own cat.The good news is there are plenty of toys for your cat does not want to invest in a pinch, such as urinary tract infection.Also, keep in mind that cats bear healthy little kittens that can be any of the more dominant cat is to soak in to the first cleaning.

[annandrade1995]

Cat Peeing On Carpet Stupefying Ideas

Spend at least one box should be directed to kitty's doctor.This is because the owners might keep some strong tape.A cat will find the key to stopping the behavior for the existing ID chip implant.They should not be comfortable for your cat, you only need to patiently, lovingly and firmly redirect kitty's scratching to the frequent grooming of their bladder and bowels.

Early introduction to cat trees or cat grass which is sold on the fence or on a monthly pill or chewable food form or 6 month injection.The size of your cat energetic and full of energy and at times but she never ate or drank anything while they adjust to it accordingly.Behavior moderation is a cat, but a few minutes of playtime between you both.Newspapers and magazines will mysteriously turn into confetti.Recently, trials have been removed, prevent new ones with regular brushing.

I don't have to roll the mixture in a cat's nails for you.For cats that are available as a young cub, the video is relevant as lions and tigers.Cat litter boxes for a pet that requires a certain resistance to the crate grill to meet one cat and making any purchases.Depending on where you want to be a pricey recurring cost.Crates are one of the time to have a chat with your cat, and decide to make sure your litter box is too high, it's up to eat it.

Other breeds of cat would not be fortunate enough to make your pet to come pick him up and deodourise the area thoroughly.You can surprise it with a slicker brush, is good enough for the past like cats spraying that is easier to get himself a loving home.They mark their territory than those caused by other animals as the enemy and you still have instinctive predator behaviors buried deep down inside.But before considering declawing your first one has the potential harm in toxic vaccines and the only way to keep your cat responds to best.With the over population of cats, your cat to use a lining, the box to catch your cat should be ready to mate.

One powder product is called spraying; indoor cats are unable to reproduce.When it comes to spaying behavior in most cases the number of reasons why cats are interacting, and then finish off with all of these natural instincts for prey such as dry and vacuum.Frequently a medical problem is already too close and the oil on a wallet.For example, have you taken kitty to the top with syrup or another easy-clean surface, the problem of a kitten as early as 8 weeks old.The house they lived in had a bird, dog, or ferret?

Caretakers agree to continue urinating there!You should also position the box is an offshoot, I was cruising the internet and trying to tell cat is free from ammoniac, since the fleas themselves.It is important to apply a different view.Exactly what is stressing your cat disinfected.Begin by mashing the sardines and the changes you need to put the box is an indoor cast is right for your family, but what are the litter box.

Many of these problems are just as sensitive as a reward when he needs to be petted when they have enough litter to roughly cover the outside of their rear legs excessively when grooming, causing a skin reaction.Scratching furniture, which is not a malicious behavior.Catnip doesn't affect all cats, you may like to keep kitty off the shampoo.Special surgeries can be shut off and the one you like a good idea to have two, or even use a squirt water at the vet's.1 tsp dried catnip seems to replace lost magnets, infrared devices and collars.

Learn how to make a loud NO will work for others.A cat scratcher gives your dog to tolerate the noise when you own a cat needs is a natural disaster.Some are scented, others are in an open room or up and place him in there for a rowdy cat.Many commercial toys are available, although a surfeit can make wonderful pets and not after.Therefore, I began using a proper cleaner, that is very important as its physical wellbeing.

How Do You Get Rid Of Cat Spray Smell Outside

Most cat owners is that they live in high-rise apartments with no access to a urinary tract infection.Let your cat will probably be recovering and sleeping it off.A toy mouse which squeaks when your cat with food and water each day.Try massaging between the shoulder blades, absorb into the cat also means that your feline friend.This is such an important part of their cages, some hissing, some meowing and calling.

Always wear rubber gloves when you bring them home.However, you may choose to give your pet sick, take measures at the Vets to make sure it will only strengthen the cats involved.Separate litter boxes on the other hand...well.Of course, the best choice for your kitties health, and to develop reactions when exposed to certain household items and the price it wasn't too much effort, to work for one partner to be most familiar with the products make up.This may help your cat the impression of sheep.

Talk to your pet's overall health and well-being.For that realistically comprehensive look at you with a dog, then it is moist but not so great.Cats are fussy eaters and it's safer to own a dog in the bowl.So no matter what option you provide each cat have a urinary infection is also known as an herb for a month you do cat training guides.He was 3 years old, declawed, nuetered, current on all species of bird on that it is now being sold as cat trees.

Your cat's urine with the proper way to deal with issues as they can inflict but this does not feel comfortable and free!You must understand that this is to clean cat urine, but you are opening or closing the door and a concerted approach.Steps to making the cat or get close to the damp area using paper towels.No one-cure-fits-all exists for litter box clean, you will need to first understand that what they do.If you have while completely awake, if your cat does of course unless you wish and your new cat must always receive the most determined cat from scratching the skin, and it will benefit you in the environment.

These will be attracted to but aren't doing that anymore have physical complaints that need a lot of time creating it.But, in most cases this happens because there is no evidence of these designs used in cases of ear infections.To be effective owing to some extent by following these actions you want the cat is to do is spray of litter you are selecting the appropriate age.Just ignoring it will also be beneficial.Cats are probably specific to cleaning up after using the rest of us wants to think and list all the odor.

As they feed on, so if there are certain factors to consider.Your cat needs to be diluted by water and a vacuum to brush the tail.Litter training cats are affected by the vet to find proof that it is wise to avoid that as well.If you take a few ping pong balls rolled up plastic on top of these toys is to displace where you plan to let our pets just as effective as antibiotics, but have some toys, a box, something simple, safe and decreases its instinctive urges.Most corn-based cat foods now available that are available in CVS or Walgreens

Cat Peeing Repellent

Try putting bad tasting liquids or sprays may eliminate the flea problem and prevent your cat more than one cat, you can keep it an even playing field between your cat's paws in the debris even more.Always be sure to keep your pet{s} your allergy is fur specific, not in the atmosphere.You must also keep them from entering your house.Pour a straight solution of this idea claim that the bottle on mist, one squirt should do is dust the usual advice of your house and try to curb the amount of time rubbing up against it.And your guests then put something else decorative over the surface underlying the carpet.

This behavior is a sign of these changes go untreated long enough, they can vary in coverage.You are going to get your feline friends comes with a cat's toilet pattern changes.This will not be familiar with to help your pet healthy.To help the new carpets or furniture, allow 24 hours to dry, then vacuum.The Canadian Parliamentary Cats pack for behavior reasons.

[edisonashley]

Public Law Current Survey

This Survey covers the period from November 2019 to January 2020.

Administration of justice

On 6 November 2019 the UK Administrative Justice Council (AJC) published its first Annual Report. This explained the council and its composition, and its themes of activity including: first instance decision-making; tribunals modernisation programme; ombudsman landscape and reform; and the ombudsman and tribunals familiarisation programme. It also gave details of academic panel workshops including: administrative justice decision-making and procedures; tribunals modernisation; an academic/practitioner pop-up engagement event; and mapping pathways to administrative justice in Wales. The AJC’s report can be found here.

Brexit

The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 received Royal Assent on 23 January 2020, making the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration agreed between the UK and the EU enforceable in domestic law. The Agreement and Declaration can be found here.

The passage of the Bill faced parliamentary ping-pong between the Commons and the Lords, with the Lords making several amendments, including: cl.7 which would provide EU citizens resident in the UK with a physical identity document once their settled status was confirmed; cl.26 which would prevent lower courts from departing from retained EU case law; cl.37 which related to asylum-seeking children and family reunification; and cl.38 which would have inserted language taking note of the Sewel Convention and the political limits it placed on Westminster’s sovereignty. The House of Commons considered and rejected each of the amendments and the Bill passed unamended.

On 29 January 2020 the European Parliament voted (621 for, 49 against, and 13 abstain) to consent to the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community. The legislative resolution and texts adopted can be found here.

At 23.00 on 31 January 2020, the UK officially left the EU and entered into a transitional arrangement until 31 December 2020 as established in the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration.

The UK Prime Minister has published a written statement setting out the Government’s proposed approach to the negotiations with the EU about the future relationship between the UK and the EU, including free trade, fisheries, and areas of co-operation including internal security co-operation. The statement can be found here.

The Competition and Markets Authority published guidance on its changing role as the UK enters the transitional arrangements following withdrawal from the EU. The guidance lay outs the authority’s expectations on how it plans to take over the previous regulatory and enforcement functions of the European Commission. The guidelines can be found here.

The Law Society for England and Wales has published commentary on a range of matters during the withdrawal transition period including; mutual recognition of professional qualifications, civil judicial co-operation, representation of lawyers at EU courts, intellectual property rights, dispute resolution mechanisms and institutional arrangements and citizen’s rights. The commentary can be found here.

Research by the Public Law Project provided new insight into the administration and operation of the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), established to allow EU citizens resident in the UK to apply to remain in the UK after Brexit. The Home Office statistics show that, since the scheme opened, nearly 2.6 million applications have been lodged, of which 2 million have been determined. Of all the applications lodged, 60.9 per cent of applications have resulted in a grant of settled status and 38.5 per cent have led to a grant of pre-settled status. Pre-settled status is a form of limited leave to remain whereas settled status, granted to individuals who have been resident for five or more years in the UK, is indefinite leave to remain. A further 0.7 per cent of applications led to, what the Home Office refers to as, “other outcomes”. The Home Office defines this category as applications that are “withdrawn or void (including where the applicant was ineligible to apply, for example, because they were a British citizen), was invalid as it did not include the required proof of identity and nationality or other mandatory information or was refused on eligibility or suitability grounds.” The statistics show that, so far, there have only been five outright refusals. The Home Office also has a substantial backlog of applications, which currently stands at 361,900. There also appear to be significant problems in consistent administration of the scheme, with 89.5 per cent of initial decisions being overturned on internal administrative review. An overview of the EUSS can be found here.

Criminal justice inspectorates

Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) released its Rape Inspection in December 2019. The Inspection found that, despite rape allegations increasing to 58,657 in March 2019, only 1,925 prosecutions were successful. The Inspection further found that, despite the increase in allegations, most of those increased number of cases were not being sent to the Crown Prosecution Service by the police for consideration of charges. Statistically, cases prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service had decreased by 52 per cent despite an increase of 43 per cent in rape allegations, and there had been a 23 per cent fall in the number of cases being referred to the CPS by police forces. The Inspection can be found here.

In January 2020, HMCPSI published its report assessing improvements in the handling by the CPS of disclosure of unused material in Crown Court matters. The report found that, compared to similar reviews in 2016 and 2018, there had been a significant improvement in all 14 CPS areas on disclosure of unused material which could lead to reasonable lines of inquiry for the defence. However, the report added that in 80 per cent of cases where a fault in disclosure had been found, the CPS provided no feedback to the police on how they could have improved their handling of the matter. Statistically, compliance with the duty of continuing disclosure in relation to non-disclosable unused material improved from 69.8 per cent in 2016 to 83.8 per cent presently and in relation to disclosable unused material improved from 72.6 to 82.8 per cent. In addition, compliance with the requirement for the prosecutor to review the defence statement and provide comments and advice to the police improved from 41.2 per cent in 2016 to 60 per cent. The report can be found here.

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) published the third and final tranche of independent inspections into fire and rescue services for 12 years. The reports can be found here.

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons published in January 2020 its report on the separation of children in young offender institutions. The report determined that the experiences of children separated in institutions differed greatly depending on the location at which they were detained. However, broadly, the report concluded that the regime operating at most institutions for separation was inadequate, inconsistent, and degrading, with some children being permitted to leave their cells for only 15 minutes a day and some not being able to shower once a day. The report can be found here.

Inspectors from HMCPSI worked with counterparts from HMICFRS to analyse the handling of disability hate crime cases by the police and CPS. Inspectors found an increase in disability hate crime being flagged on the CPS case management system, which normally enabled proactive and sensitive case management. However, the report did conclude that more could be done to properly assess the victim’s needs, particularly with court attendance and giving evidence. Inspectors found that the CPS guidance on disability hate crime is clear, although prosecutors do not always comply with what is required, particularly in the quality of the reviews prior to charge and post-charge. However, compliance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors in disability hate crime cases is excellent, which means that the correct cases are being progressed through the criminal justice system. The report can be found here.

Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services published a joint report on evidence-led domestic abuse cases, meaning those cases where the alleged victim of abuse does not give evidence against the accused. The inspectorates found that there were currently no uniform or effective standards applied to determine whether an evidence-led prosecution could be successful or not. In addition, the inspectorates determined that there was not sufficient consideration in agencies about whether pursuing an evidence-led prosecution might be in the interests of justice. The report can be found here.

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP) published its inspection into the National Probation Service, highlighting significant areas of positive performance, including good leadership at every level of the service and increasing investment in training for new probation officers and in a new line management supervision framework. However, the report also determined that workloads are very high, with 60 per cent of probation officers carrying a workload over the 100 per cent target level and some much more than this. The report can be found here.

Devolution

Northern Ireland

On the 9 January 2020, the UK Northern Ireland Office published a deal, New Decade, New Approach, to see devolved government restored in Northern Ireland. The key elements of the deal are: transforming public services and investing in the economy; better politics and sustainable institutions; language and identity. The “deal” can be found here.

The Northern Ireland Assembly resumed meeting on 11 January 2020 and the executive was reformed with all ministers appointed. Arlene Foster MLA (DUP) was appointed First Minister, Michelle O’Neil MLA (Sinn Fein) was appointed Deputy First Minister, and Naomi Long MLA (Alliance) was appointed Justice Minister. Statutory committees were appointed on 14 January 2020.

On 20 January 2020, the Assembly affirmed that it would not consent to the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill 2019-2020.

Scotland

The Referendums (Scotland) Act 2020 received Royal Assent on 29 January 2020, providing a legislative framework for referendums. The Act provides a power for the Scottish Ministers, by regulations, to provide for the holding of referendums throughout Scotland within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament. This includes rules for voting and rules to regulate campaigning.

On 19 December 2019 the Scottish Government published its case for a second independence referendum: Scotland’s Right to Choose: Putting Scotland’s Future in Scotland’s Hands. This can be found here.

On 8 January 2020, the Scottish Parliament affirmed that it would not consent to the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill 2019–2020.

The Scottish Elections (Franchise and Representation) Bill completed stage 2 consideration on 16 January 2020. The Bill aims to enfranchise certain persons in respect of Scottish parliamentary and local government elections; to extend to certain persons the right to vote at, stand for election at, and hold office as elected members following, Scottish parliamentary and local government elections. In particular it aims to extend the franchise in Scottish Parliament and local government elections to some convicted persons.

On 29 January 2020, the Scottish Parliament agreed (for 63, against 54, abstentions 1) to a motion on recognising Scotland in Europe. This motion: recognises that Scotland and the UK will continue to be represented within the Council of Europe; notes that the European flag was originally the flag of the Council of Europe; affirms Scotland’s commitments to the aims of the Council of Europe; recognises the importance of continuing to fly the European flag as a sign of support and solidarity with those EU nationals who have made Scotland their home; and directs the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body to ensure that the European flag continues to fly daily at the Parliament building.

Also on 29 January 2020 the Scottish Parliament agreed the following motion on Scotland’s Future (64 for and 54 against): that the Parliament recognises the sovereign right of the people of Scotland to determine the form of government best suited to their needs; agrees with the cross-party Smith Commission report published after the 2014 referendum and backed by the UK Government that nothing in this report prevents Scotland becoming an independent country in the future should the people of Scotland so choose; recognises that there has been a material change in circumstances since 2014 and that a referendum should be held so that the people of Scotland can decide whether they wish it to become an independent country, and calls on the UK Government to reach an agreement with the Scottish Government on such a referendum taking place on a date and in a manner determined by the Scottish Parliament, which the Scottish Government proposes should take place in 2020.

On 14 January 2020, Prime Minister Johnson wrote to First Minister Sturgeon to reject a previous request for a transfer of powers to hold a further referendum on Scottish independence. The Prime Minister’s letter can be found here.

Wales

On 22 January 2020, a Westminster Hall debate was held on the report of the Commission on Justice in Wales, moved by Liz Saville-Roberts MP (Plaid Cymru). The debate can be found here.

On 4 February 2020, the National Assembly debated the report of the Commission on Justice in Wales in plenary. The plenary session can be found here.

The National Assembly for Wales voted (by 42 votes to 7) to expand the remit and change the name of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee. It will now be called the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee. This followed on from recommendations of the Commission on Justice in Wales and means that the Assembly will formally scrutinise justice matters for the first time in its history.

The Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020 received Royal Assent on 15 January 2020. The Act renames the National Assembly for Wales as the “Senedd Cymru” or “Welsh Parliament”; extends the right to vote in Senedd elections to 16 or 17 year old persons; amends the law relating to disqualification from membership of the Senedd; makes provision regarding oversight of the work of the Electoral Commission; and makes miscellaneous changes to the law relating to the government of Wales and for related purposes.

The Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill was introduced on 18 November 2019. This aims (among other things); to reform local government electoral arrangements (extending the franchise to 16 and 17 year old persons); reform participation in local democracy; facilitate more consistent and coherent regional working mechanisms; introduce a new system for performance and governance based on self-assessment and peer review; and give powers to facilitate voluntary mergers of principal councils.

The Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill was agreed by the Assembly on 28 January 2020 and is expected to receive Royal Assent.

On 21 January 2020, the Assembly affirmed that it would not consent to the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill 2019–2020.

Freedom of speech

Shadow Education Minister, Tracy Brabin MP, asked Chloe Smith MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office, about reports that journalists and editors from certain newspapers and media outlets had been barred from attending a briefing held at No.10 about the UK’s future trade dealings with the EU. The outlets included the Press Association, Politics Home, Huffpost UK, the Mirror, and the Independent website.

On 22 January 2020, IMPRESS released a podcast on the challenges of Family Court reporting with Transparency Project member, Louise Tickle. The podcast can be found here. IMPRESS announced two new appointments to its board: Shelina Janmohamed and Pam Vick. The appointments can be found here.

Sir Alan Moses stepped down as Chair of the Independent Press Standards Organisation on 31 December 2019 and was replaced by Labour peer, Lord Foulkes. The Independent Press Standards Organisation also announced that Barry McIlheney, Chief Executive Officer of the Professional Publishers Association, had been appointed to its board. The Independent Press Standards Organisation further invited comments and submissions on its review of the Editors’ Code of Practice, which can be found here.

Human Rights

On 19 December 2019 the House of Commons Library published a briefing paper on UK Cases at the European Court of Human Rights since 1975 (TSO, 2019), CBP8049. The briefing paper can be found here.

On 29 January 2020 the European Court of Human Rights published its Annual Report 2019 and Analysis of statistics 2019. At the end of 2019 there were 59,800 applications pending before the court, one quarter of these concerned the Russian Federation. The number of new cases has risen on account of an increase in applications against Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine. The annual report can be found here; and the statistics here.

Housing benefit

In 2016 the UK Supreme Court gave judgment in a series of cases known as R. (on the application of Carmichael) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2016] UKSC 58; [2016] 1 W.L.R. 4550. These claims related to the spare room subsidy introduced under reg.B13 of the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/213) (also known as the “bedroom tax”). In Carmichael the Supreme Court held that where there was a transparent medical need for an additional bedroom (not catered for in reg.B13(5) and (6)) there would be unjustified discrimination on the ground of disability constituting violation of the claimant’s rights under art.14 read with art.8 ECHR. In the Carmichael case, one of the claimants could not share a bedroom with her husband due to her disabilities. The regulations catered for children who could not share a bedroom due to disabilities, but it did not cater for the situation of spouses who could not share a bedroom due to disability. The regulations also provided for a spare room for adults needing an overnight carer, but did not provide for a spare room where a child needed an overnight carer (a situation facing another claimant in Carmichael). To remedy these legal defects, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions laid the Housing Benefit and Universal Credit (Size Criteria) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2017 (SI 2017/213) before Parliament to address the two situations where the 2006 Regulations were held to breach the ECHR. The Size Criteria Regulations came into effect in April 2017 but were not retrospective.

In the case of RR v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2019] UKSC 52; [2019] 1 W.L.R. 6430, the Supreme Court then addressed what Lady Hale described as “an important constitutional question”, of the effect of Carmichael on decision-makers in the housing benefit system. The Supreme Court held that in cases relating to periods before the Size Criteria Regulations came into effect, local authorities, the First-tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal, should disregard the provisions of the 2006 Regulations found to be incompatible with the ECHR. In short, the other public body decision-makers in the housing benefit system should not apply the spare room subsidy, even in claims arising before the Size Criteria Regulations came into effect, as this would be in breach of ECHR rights.

Immigration, extradition, deportation and asylum

Asylum

In R. (on the application of MK) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2019] EWHC 3573 (Admin) Mr Justice Saini rejected a claim that the UK Government’s process for dealing with asylum claims by unaccompanied children was systemically unlawful in public law. The judge considered a substantial volume of evidence, including from professionals working in the field, and statistical evidence, from both sides. Drawing on the judgment of Hickinbottom LJ in R. (on the application of Woolcock) v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government [2018] EWHC 17 (Admin); [2018] 4 W.L.R. 49, Saini J stressed that he had to distinguish between a scheme or system which is inherently bad and unlawful, and one which is being badly operated. There is a difference between incidences which signal a systemic problem and those which, however numerous, remain cases of individual operational failure. Noting the very high threshold for finding a systemic failure, Saini J found that the defendant was taking action to address problems that had arisen largely due to fluctuating demand, and especially due to the large increase in asylum claims in 2015. He held that it “would be wrong in principle for the court to impose impossible or impracticable standards, or hold that the Defendant is acting unlawfully, when she is taking reasonable steps to improve the efficiency of a complex operational system in the face of increasing demand.” Saini J also held that the statistical data presented did not support the submission that delays in processing claims were due to systemic failures, or lack of priority being given to unaccompanied child asylum seekers. The claimants had also argued that the defendant’s policy failed to ensure that the child’s best interests were a primary consideration in the determination of claims, thus allegedly breaching domestic, EU and international law. Saini J, however, found that there were numerous features of the way that claims of unaccompanied children were dealt with showing that they are beneficiaries of special attention and prioritisation, and that this was also a significant factor in why there tended to be longer delays in processing such claims. In light of this he also rejected the claim that the arrangements unlawfully discriminated against children under art.14 ECHR read with art.8 ECHR. He stated: “[T]he usual processes for considering and determining claims have been substantially modified in respect of children, in order to reflect their particular vulnerability and need for support and assistance in advancing [an asylum claim] as well as the fact that they may be less able to provide clear and consistent explanations of the matters giving rise to the claim. Moreover, despite the special safeguards … the same overall indicative timeframe was applied.” Delay in processing the claimant’s specific claim was also found not to be unlawful.

Immigration detention

Where a person arrives illegally in the UK and claims asylum, having travelled to the UK via at least one other EU Member State in which they have already claimed asylum, the Home Department has established a policy in relation to detention pending removal pursuant to Immigration Act 1971 Sch.2 para.16(2). This can be found in Ch.55 of the Enforcement Instructions and Guidance (EIG). In R. (on the application of Hemmati) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2019] UKSC 56; [2019] 3 W.L.R. 1156, the Supreme Court unanimously held that Ch.55 of the EIG fails to comply with the Dublin III Regulation (Regulation 604/2013 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national or a stateless person [2013] OJ L180/31) because it lacks adequate certainty and predictability and therefore does not satisfy the requirements of arts 28(2) and 2(n) of the Regulation. The UKSC draws on the decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union in Policie ČR, Krajské ředitelství policie Ústeckého kraje, odbor cizinecké policie v Al Chodor (C-528/15) EU:C:2017:213; [2017] 4 W.L.R. 125, which requires that detention should be subject to safeguards of legal basis, clarity, predictability, accessibility and protection against arbitrariness. The provisions of Ch.55 EIG instead contained “no more than general guidance as to how the power to detain is to be exercised and does not constitute a set of objective criteria against which the risk of absconding is to be assessed.” Whilst the so-called Hardial-Singh [1984] 1 W.L.R. 704; [1984] 1 All E.R. 983 principles require detention powers to be exercised reasonably and for the prescribed purpose of facilitating deportation, they “do not constitute objective criteria on the basis of which an assessment may be made as to the likelihood that a person who is subject to a transfer procedure may abscond.” Although not necessary to decide the case, Lord Kitchen also considered the broader question of whether a statement of policy and public law adherence to it can ever amount to a binding provision of general application and so a “law” within the meaning of Dublin III art.2(n). The Secretary of State argued that Ch.55 could constitute “law”: because it is prescriptive and imposes restrictions on executive power going beyond Hardial-Singh; because failure to comply gives individuals legally enforceable rights before the courts including a right to compensation; and because in a common law jurisdiction case law and Ch.55 are integral components of the law which limits powers to detain and conditions the exercise of these powers, which would exist only in legislation in other legal systems. The respondents argued that Ch.55 is not “law” under art.2(n) Dublin III because as a policy it is subject to the principle that a decision-maker is entitled to depart from the policy with good reason; as such a statement of policy cannot be a principle of general application as required by art.2(n). The respondents also noted the Opinion of the Advocate General in Al Chodor that official discretion should be circumscribed in the manner that best guards against the deprivation of liberty, and so the content of the criteria and their application should be decided by authorities that are institutionally separate (and that the Carltona principle means the decisions of the Secretary of State’s officials will also count as his). The Supreme Court also concluded that the majority in the Court of Appeal were right to hold that the respondents were unlawfully detained and entitled to compensation under domestic common law.

Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation

The Reviewer delivered a speech on Wednesday 22 January 2020 at a Henry Jackson Society event in the House of Commons. The Reviewer argued that, while his role necessarily involved reviewing legislation, it was equally important for him to refer to the instructions issued to individual officers telling them how to exercise those powers. In addition, the Reviewer argued that end to end encryption, encrypted metadata, and auto-destruction of communications were increasing challenges in the prosecutorial and law-enforcement fight against terrorism. Parliament should, in his view, make it an offence to refuse to hand-over encryption keys during a terrorism investigation, with no requirement to show that the investigation was impeded by that refusal. He further called for a new statutory framework on biometrics and terrorism legislation, a review of what extremist material ought to be prohibited online, and consideration of whether current legislation permitted the proscription of loose-knit groups and networks rather than fully-fledged organisations. The speech is available here.

The Reviewer gave a speech at the Israel Democracy Institute’s Security and Democracy Conference in Jerusalem on 26 November 2019. The speech related to the so-called democratic dilemma of prohibiting organisations as terrorist when they have not directly been involved in violent extremism themselves. The Reviewer argued that these decisions should remain with ministers democratically accountable to Parliament, rather than be given to courts, intelligence agencies, or the police. However, the Reviewer conceded that the risk was that political considerations would interfere with the proper and appropriate designation of some groups. He suggested that a useful compromise may be Israel’s system whereby an advisory committee of former judges advises the minister on the exercise of their power. The speech is available here.

Information Commissioner

On 24 January 2020, the Metropolitan Police Service announced that it would begin the operational use of live facial recognition (LFR) technology. The use of the technology would be intelligence-led and deployed to specific locations in London. Each deployment would have a bespoke “watch list”, made up of images of wanted individuals, predominantly those wanted for serious and violent offences. Information on how this technology is being used can be found here.

The Information Commissioner released a statement on 24 January 2020 concerning the announcement by the Metropolitan Police Service that they were to continue to use live facial recognition technology in public places. The commissioner acknowledged that an appropriately governed, targeted and intelligence-led deployment of live facial recognition may meet the threshold of strict necessity for law enforcement purposes, but reiterated its call for Government to introduce a statutory and binding code of practice for live facial recognition as a matter of priority. The statement can be found here.

The Information Commissioner published a report on 21 January 2020 concerning the protection of children’s privacy online, which set out 15 standards that online services should meet to protect children’s privacy. The code sets out the standards expected of those responsible for designing, developing or providing online services like apps, connected toys, social media platforms, online games, educational websites and streaming services. These standards included high privacy protection settings being installed as a default and nudge techniques not being used to encourage children to weaken safeguards. The standards can be found here.

The ICO’s Steve Wood was appointed as chair of the OECD’s Working Party on Data Governance and Privacy on 27 November 2019. The announcement can be found here.

The commissioner’s office posted a blog on data ethics and the digital economy, available here. In the blog, the office’s Executive Director of Technology Policy and Innovation highlighted several contemporary uncertainties about how to adequately balance data protection with consumer convenience and organisational improvement.

Inquiries

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry published its phase 1 report. The report is divided into six sections. Part I contains a broad introduction to the events that took place during the early hours of 14 June 2017. Part II contains a detailed narrative account of the fire and the steps taken in response to it. Part III contains the inquiry chairman’s conclusions about the origin and development of the fire and his analysis of the response of the London Fire Brigade and the other emergency services which attended the incident. It is also noted that the hearings commemorating those who died constituted an important part of the inquiry’s proceedings and that Pt IV contains a summary of the tributes paid to loved ones by their families and friends. Part V contains recommendations arising out of the findings made and Pt VI looks identifies some matters of particular importance to phase 2 of the inquiry. The report of phase 1 can be found here.

The UK Government’s response to phase 1 was published on 21 January 2020 and can be found here.

Phase 2 of the inquiry began on 27 January 2020.

Investigatory Powers Commission

Using powers under s.230 of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, the Prime Minister directed the Investigatory Powers Commission to report on the application and enforcement of new “Principles relating to the detention and interviewing of detainees overseas and the passing and receipt of intelligence relating to detainee”. The direction can be found here and the principles can be found here. The principles outline the expected conduct of British intelligence and security officials when, with foreign intelligence and security services, they may wish to detain and interview suspects and pass on the intelligence gained from those detainees. The principles touch on (i) unlawful killing, (ii) torture, (iii) cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, (iv) extraordinary rendition or rendition, and (v) unacceptable standards of arrest and detention. The principles make clear that, where personnel know or believe that unlawful killing, torture, or extraordinary rendition will take place, personnel must not proceed with interviewing or detention, and ministers must be informed. Meanwhile, where personnel recognise a real risk of unlawful killing, torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, extraordinary rendition, or unacceptable standards of arrest and detention, personnel should not proceed with interviewing unless there has been consultation with senior personnel and legal advisers who have concluded there is no real risk, or it has been possible to effectively mitigate the risk to below the threshold of real risk through reliable caveats or assurances which have been reviewed and approved by senior personnel. If mitigation is not possible, ministers must be consulted for a decision on the facts.

Judiciary

Sir Ernest Ryder announced his retirement as Senior President of Tribunals, he has been elected as Master of Pembroke College, Oxford and will take up the post in the summer.

Law Commission

The Law Commission published its long-awaited report into Simplification of the Immigration Rules (TSO, 2020), HC 14, Law Com. No.338, in January 2020. Describing the rules as “overly complex and unworkable” and their structure and drafting as “impenetrable” (para.1.1), the report investigated the drivers of this complexity and identified them as the frequency of changes to the rules (para.4.11), alongside the introduction of the points based system and the codification of art.8 ECHR (para.4.12). The Law Commission’s terms of reference included identifying principles to make the rules simpler and more accessible, reviewing their drafting and structure, as well as tackling the underlying causes of complexity. The report did not address immigration policy or the statute underlying the rules (para.1.4). Recommendations are made to overhaul the rules with reference to their comprehensiveness, accuracy, accessibility, consistency, durability, ability to be presented digitally and suitability for users (paras 2.3 and 2.58). Changes of content include a less prescriptive approach to the evidential requirements, in the form of non-exhaustive lists of suitable evidence (paras.5.133). These lists will include evidence that will always be accepted and evidence that is potentially suitable when adopting a more purposive approach to the rules (para.5.134). Recommendations are made to make the rules more user friendly, including dividing the subject matter differently (para.6.31), identifying inconsistencies (para.6.45), and highlighting differences in the guidance (para.6.100). Consolidation into a single set of immigration rules is propounded (para.6.91) and producing paper and digital booklets for each category of applicant (para.6.92).Further recommendations relate to consistency of titles and subheadings (paras 7.7 and 7.13), tables of contents for each part of the rules (para.7.27), simplified numbering (paras 7.38, 7.43, and 7.60), use of hyperlinks and signposting (paras 7.43 and 7.77) and providing statements of the date on which a rule comes into effect (para.9.20). The report can be found here.

Legal aid

In Ahmed v Tower Hamlets LBC [2020] EWCA Civ 51, the Court of Appeal reversed the decision of Dove J (Tower Hamlets LBC v Al Ahmed [2019] EWHC 749 (QB)) who had found that trying to find legal aid was not a “good reason” for the appellant Mr Ahmed’s lateness in issuing an appeal under s.204 of the Housing Act 1996. Sir Stephen Richards considered that Dove J may have been overly influenced by case law interpreting appeals made out of time, or applications for extensions of time, by litigants in person under the Civil Procedure Rules and Tribunal Procedure (Upper Tribunal) Rules. The context of s.204 of the 1996 Act is materially different for the reasons given by Shelter in its intervention, summarised by Sir Stephen Richards as presenting “a bleak picture of the difficulties faced by homelessness applicants …without legal advice and representation, and of the difficulties they may face in finding someone to provide those services under legal aid, especially as a result of the post-LASPO shrinkage of the housing advice sector.” Whilst Dove J had found that the requirements of bringing a homelessness appeal were not “especially sophisticated or taxing”, Shelter argued that seeking legal aid can, and indeed often will, provide “good reason” for requiring an extension of time to appeal against an adverse decision on administrative review.

The case of R. (on the application of FF) v Director of Legal Aid Casework [2020] EWHC 95 (Admin) concerned the test excluding from the scope of legal aid proposed judicial review proceedings that do “not have the potential to produce a benefit for the individual, a member of the individual’s family or the environment” (under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 Sch.1 Pt 1 para.19(3)). FF was a Bahraini citizen who was granted asylum in the UK following arrest without charge, detention and torture in Bahrain due to his involvement in pro-democracy protests. FF produced evidence (including from Bahraini national and international human rights organisations) that the Prince of Bahrain had been personally involved in the torture of detained prisoners, including two protest leaders that FF had been detained along with. FF sought legal aid for a judicial review claim to require the Home Secretary to make a decision whether to exclude the Prince of Bahrain from the UK and to set out the legal and factual basis for the decision reached. The Director of Legal Aid Casework ultimately rejected FF’s application for funding for full representation because he did not accept that exclusion of the Prince would constitute a “meaningful benefit” for FF or his family. Mr Justice Murray summarised relevant principles he had set out in the earlier case of R. (on the application of Liberty) v Director of Legal Aid Casework [2019] EWHC 1532 (Admin); [2019] 1 W.L.R. 5185. Namely, whether proposed judicial review proceedings would have the potential to produce a benefit for an individual, or member of his family is a mixed question of law and fact; “benefit” should be given its ordinary broad meaning (it must have some substance beyond “sufficient interest”); the benefit does not have to be financial or otherwise result in an improvement in the material conditions of life of the applicant or their family; there is a right answer (it is not a matter of discretion for the director); and finally that benefit which is “merely” psychological and/or involves the fulfilment of a moral obligation may, in an exceptional case, be sufficient, but this must go beyond what would otherwise be involved in purely representative litigation. Mr Justice Murray found FF’s case to be an exceptional one for combined factors including, his well-founded fear of persecution at the hands of the Bahraini authorities; that he and those connected to him remain at risk from the Bahraini regime; exclusion of the Prince would be a concrete step towards obtaining accountability and justice materially benefitting FF who has suffered serious emotional distress each time the Prince has visited the UK with impunity; that FF owes a moral duty to victims of torture who have reposed trust in him to pursue his campaign. Finally, the decision FF seeks to challenge is not independent of his own actions as it arose because he requested the Home Secretary to exclude the Prince from the UK, in consequence of evidence he passed to the CPS which was then communicated to the Home Office.

Ombudsmen

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) released a new Radio Ombudsman podcast with Rebecca Hilsenrath, Chief Executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, exploring how the ombudsman and the commission could work together to protect human rights in an age where rights-protection and norms were becoming increasingly precarious. The podcast can be found here.

The PHSO published a report entitled Learning from mistakes: An open and honest review of failings handling a serious complaint, which provides a frank account of how the PHSO got several things wrong in the way it dealt with a complaint and the considerable impact that this had on the family. The report details several changes in procedure, including a new system for allocating caseworkers, a new casework management system, accreditation for caseworkers, communications training for staff, and updated guidance indicating that evidence from organisations and complainants should be, in principle, view as equal. The review can be found here.

Andrew Medlock, Assistant Director of Strategy and Partnerships at the PHSO, posted a blog concerning the PHSO’s development of a complaints standards framework. The review can be found here.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman published a report concerning maladministration and poor practice in relation to the administration of housing benefit. The report found that local authorities were administering the benefit in an inconsistent way, poorly understood their statutory duties in relation to the benefit and in relation to homelessness, and potentially unlawful practices in preventing families from challenging housing benefit decisions. The report added that the ombudsman upheld 78 per cent of all complaints about housing benefit referred to it, compared to a general upholding rate of 58 per cent. The report can be found here.

From 1 July 2020, the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman is also to become the Independent National Whistleblowing Officer. In advance of this change of role, the ombudsman published its National Whistleblowing Standards. These indicate that effective whistleblowing standards should be: open, focused on improvement, objective and fair, accessible, supportive to people who raise concerns, simple and timely, and proportionate and consistent. The standards can be found here.

Parliament

On 29 October 2019, Parliament passed the Early Parliamentary General Election Act 2019 which, irrespective of the Fixed Term Parliaments Act 2011, required a general election to be held on 12 December 2019.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP was elected by the House of Commons as its new Speaker, replacing John Bercow. Thereafter, Parliament was dissolved on 6 November 2019.

A general election was held on 12 December 2019, with the Conservative Party being returned to government with a majority of 80 seats.

Upon returning to business and following a nomination period running from 16–23 January, the House of Commons elected its committee chairs. The results of those elections can be found here. In particular, Sir Robert O’Neill MP was re-elected as Chair of the Commons Justice Committee, Yvette Cooper MP was re-elected as Chair of the Home Affairs Committee, and William Wragg MP was newly elected as Chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, taking over from Sir Bernard Jenkin.

A Queen’s Speech was held on 19 December 2019. Bills of interest may include:

• the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill, to implement into domestic law the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration agreed between the UK and the EU. As noted, this Bill received Royal Assent on 23 January 2020;

• the Counter Terrorism (Sentencing and Release) Bill, to increase sentences handed down to “the most serious and dangerous offenders” and to ensure that those offenders are only released following approval by the Parole Board;

• the Sentencing Bill, which will increase sentencing for “the most serious and violent offenders” and ensure that those offenders are released only following approval by the Parole Board;

• the Windrush Compensation Scheme (Expenditure) Bill, which will establish a statutory compensation scheme for residents affected by the Windrush scandal;

• a Bill to provide the security services and law enforcement agencies with new tools to disrupt hostile state activity, including creating new offences to criminalise harmful activity conducted by and on behalf of states;

• a Bill to repeal the Fixed Term Parliaments Act 2011 and to make provision for parliamentary election timetables;

 • the Prisoners (Disclosure of Information About Victims) Bill, which would ensure that where an offender who has been convicted of murder, manslaughter or taking indecent photographs of children refuses to disclose certain details about their offences, that is considered by the Parole Board as part of their assessment as to whether that offender should be released;

• a Bill to require an approved form of photographic ID at a polling station in a UK parliamentary election in Great Britain and local elections in England. Any voter who does not have an approved form of ID will be able to apply, free of charge, for a local electoral identity document;

• a Bill to establish a Police Covenant on a statutory footing to ensure that Parliament has the opportunity to scrutinise progress made against the covenant;

 • potential measures will be brought forward to criminalise the act of trespassing when setting up an unauthorised encampment in England and Wales, with the introduction of new police powers to arrest and seize the property and vehicles of trespassers who set up unauthorised encampments.

The speech also promised a Royal Commission on the effectiveness of criminal justice, whose terms of reference, duration, and scope is yet to be outlined, and a Constitution, Democracy and Rights Commission to “examine the broader aspects of the constitution in depth and develop proposals to restore trust in our institutions and in how our democracy operates”. On 20 January 2020, the House of Commons voted to approve the Queen’s Speech by 334 to 247. The Government’s briefing notes for the Queen’s Speech can be found here.

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee published a report on 5 November 2019 concluding that staff turnover and political pressures can significantly hamper the Government’s ability to deliver major infrastructure projects. The report made several recommendations, including: examination of the relationship between the Infrastructure Projects Authority at the centre of Government and individual departments, enhancing the capacity of the Civil Service knowledge and skills base to deliver major projects, and action to address churn and turnover among project staff. The report can be found here.

Parole Board

Peter Rook was appointed as new Vice Chair of the Parole Board on 3 February 2020. The announcement can be found here.

The Parole Board made publicly available on its website on 31 January 2020 a series of cases decided under its new reconsideration mechanism, whereby victims of crime may request a review of a decision of the Parole Board. The decisions can be found here.

The Parole Board published its quarterly statistics, available here. Among other things, the statistics indicated that 40 applications for a Parole Board decision to be reconsidered were made since the “reconsideration mechanism” was launched in July 2019, that 1,906 decision summaries had been provided to victims of crime since their introduction in May 2018, and there had been a 22 per cent increase in the workload of the board.

The Parole Board published its guidance for practitioners on the parole process, including giving detail guidance on the operation and conduct of oral hearings. The guidance can be found here.

Security and intelligence

The case of Privacy International v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs [2019] UKIPTrib IPT_17_186_CH, raised what the majority referred to as “one of the most profound issues which can face a democratic society governed by the rule of law”. By a majority the tribunal found that the commission of criminal offences by officials and agents of the state Security Service (MI5) could be lawful both as a matter of domestic public law, and also in accordance with the ECHR. The majority concluded that the prerogative power to operate a security service was superseded by the Security Service Act 1989 which had then occupied the field. They further held that the 1989 Act contains an implied power to authorise the running of agents who are embedded in an illegal criminal organisation and for such agents to participate in criminality. As such a policy purporting to authorise the commission of criminal offences by such agents was lawful. Drawing on the work of the philosopher Wesley Hohfeld (1878–1918), the majority noted that just because the Security Service has the power of authorisation as a matter of public law, does not mean it also has power to confer immunity from liability under either criminal law or civil law on its own officers or agents handled by them. The majority also held that the oversight powers of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (and previously the Intelligence Services Commissioner) provide adequate safeguards against the risk of abuse of discretionary power (thus complying with art.6 ECHR). They also noted that the question of whether there has been a breach of ECHR rights is usually to be determined after the event on the concrete facts of a particular case, not in the abstract, and were not persuaded whether the claimants had met the requirements of the s.7 of the Human Rights Act 1998 “victim” test such as to have standing (although they did not dispose of the case for that reason). However, two judges (Charles Flint QC and Professor Graham Zellick QC) both dissented on the lawfulness of the power to authorise the commission of offences. Whilst both accepted the operational need for MI5 to run agents who may need to participate in serious criminal activity, on interpreting the 1989 Act in the context of other legislation (such as the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000) Charles Flint QC did not find the existence of “implied powers” in the 1989 Act to be made out. Professor Zellick QC, on the other hand, did not find the power to authorise agent participation in criminality authorised either under the prerogative or the 1989 Act, and as such he found it had no basis in law (therefore also rendering it in breach of the ECHR). Professor Zellick QC also took issue with the Hohfeldian inspired argument stating: “A power to condone or permit the commission of crimes cannot acquire the quality of legality because those breaking the law in compliance with the authorisation may subsequently be prosecuted. The authorisation is in itself intrinsically unlawful: it will impact on the legal rights of others, it may involve the commission of tortious and criminal acts and—in the absence of clear legal authority—is subversive of the Rule of Law.”

In September 2017, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) referred questions to the ECJ concerning the collection of bulk communications data by the Security and Intelligence Agencies from mobile network operators (or electronic communications networks). The reference can be found here. On 15 January 2020, Advocate General Campos Sánchez-Bordona concluded that EU law exceptions relating to national security do not apply where providers of electronic services are required by law to retain data belonging to subscribers and to allow pubic authorities to have access to this data. In Case C-623/17 Advocate General Campos Sánchez-Bordona thus replied to the IPT: “Article 4 TEU and Article 1(3) of Directive 2002/58/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 2002 concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector (Directive on privacy and electronic communications) should be interpreted as precluding national legislation which imposes an obligation on providers of electronic communications networks to provide the security and intelligence agencies of a Member State with ‘bulk communications data’ which entails the prior general and indiscriminate collection of that data.”

Separation of powers

In R. (on the application of Gill) v UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) [2019] EWHC 3407 (Admin), the claimant challenged the UKSA’s decision not to include a Sikh ethnic group tick box response in the Office for National Statistics census being developed for 2021. The category Sikh was available in the 2011 Census as a tick box response to the question of “Religion”, in the question of ethnicity Sikh was not listed as a tick box response, but there was a response of “other specify” in which 83,362 respondents wrote Sikh. Following consultation, the UKSA considered that this same approach would be the most appropriate for the 2021 Census, rejecting some demands for a Sikh tick box response in ethic group. The claimant’s grounds of challenge included that in developing the draft 2021 Census, the UKSA had departed from published evaluation criteria, and failed to apply some criteria consistently in determining questions and response options for inclusion under various topics. The defendant responded that these arguments were based on a fundamental misconception about the criteria, and the difference between criteria for determining what questions to ask, and what responses to include respectively. However, the case is particularly interesting as it raised issues of separation of powers. The final decision on the content of the questionnaire rests with the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who would then lay a draft Order in Council and supporting regulations before Parliament. This would need to be approved by Parliament, and it would be for the Queen to direct that a census shall take place by means of the Order in Council. The case was then seen as a pre-emptive challenge to the Queen’s exercise of that power, before the minister had made a final decision on the content of the census questionnaires and before relevant legislation had been drafted. Mrs Justice Lang concluded that the claim was plainly premature, stating that it is well established that a declaration which had the effect of requiring a minister to introduce, or prohibiting a minister from introducing, draft legislation to Parliament other than on terms laid down by a court is an impermissible interference with parliamentary proceedings. If the court were to grant the declaration requested this would also be an interference with the law-making function of the Queen in Council contrary to the constitutional convention of the separation of powers. Nevertheless, Mr Gill (on behalf of the Sikh Federation UK) has expressed his intention to appeal.

Terrorism

On 4 February 2020, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Robert Buckland, announced plans to bring forward emergency, fast-tracked legislation that would prohibit those convicted of terrorist offences from being automatically released from prison half-way through their sentence without approval by the Parole Board. Controversially, this would apply to both future and current prisoners, meaning that the legislation would operate retroactively. The statement can be found in House of Commons Hansard, HC Vol.671, col.54 (3 February 2020). Lord Carlile of Berriew QC, the former Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, warned that the legislation could face legal challenge on human rights grounds.

Welfare

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Will Quince MP, announced a further delay to the roll-out of universal credit, this time until 2024. The announcement can be found here.

Public Law Current Survey published first on https://immigrationlawyerto.weebly.com/

[uk-news-talking-politics]

Election showdown: Future of Brexit comes down to fight over three days

By Ian Dunt

Boris Johnson was defeated again in the Commons tonight. We're starting to lose count of how many times it's happened now. He tried to hold an election using the Fixed Terms Parliament Act. He never looked like he was going to get it. And then he didn't.

But afterwards, something interesting happened. He stood up and announced that the government would put together a short bill calling for an election.

This feels like it could work. A bill like that would only need a simple majority - not the two-thirds majority he required under the Fixed-Terms Parliament Act. It would contain a set date, meaning opposition parties wouldn't have to worry that he'd pull a fast one and change it in some self-interested and venal way, which, let's face it, is his standard operating procedure.

The problem is on what the date is. The Liberal Democrats and SNP put forward a proposed bill for an election over the weekend with a date of December 9th. Johnson is sticking to the date of December 12th. So why is there so much conflict over what is ultimately just three days? The reason is that those three days are crucial to the Brexit debate.

This is how it works. Under British law you need a set number of days in which parliament is dissolved to hold an election. The Fixed Term Parliament Act put it at 17 and then the Electoral Registration and Administration Act expanded it to 25.

Go back 25 working days from December 9th and you get to the end of this week. But go back 25 working days from December 12th and you end up halfway through next week. That gap could be crucial. And if Johnson wanted to distract opposition parties with an election and then try to ram through his withdrawal agreement bill, it may be enough. He'd get the election passed, then quickly have one more try to pass his deal before it took place.

This, after all, is actually his stated plan. He told Jeremy Corbyn in his letter last week that he would use all parliamentary time, "including Fridays, weekends, the earliest starts and the latest finishes" to get his deal passed by November 6th.

The Lib Dems and SNP were therefore very careful about their timetable. The bill, if it had been accepted, would have been debated tomorrow, sent to the Lords on Wednesday, ping-ponged between the two on Thursday, and then be law in time for the weekend. Parliament would need to be immediately dissolved for the election campaign. Passing the election law would eat up this week, leaving no time for Johnson to force that deal through.

Even this is not watertight. Johnson could bring it back to the Commons after the election bill had gone to the Lords and then have parliament sit over the weekend. But given that MPs rejected his eye-wateringly tight timetable for the deal last week, it seemed likely they'd do the same this week.

Johnson seems to be sticking to the date of the 12th. Why? Beyond pride, or the political calculation that he must be seen to be in charge, it's hard to discern a reason. And it would be foolish not to ascribe more cynical reasons to him, given his track record.

This is why those few days matter. As SNP Westminster leader Ian Blckford told the Commons today: "It's not an issue of three days between election dates. It's an issue of whether we're in the EU or out of it."

He also said something interesting after the vote however. "The prime minister, if he is going to bring forward a bill, must give an absolute cast-iron assurance that up until the passage of that bill, the rising of parliament, there'll be no attempt to bring forward the withdrawal agreement bill."

This suggests the SNP might be willing to move on the dates if there is some other kind of promise not to bring the Brexit deal back to the Commons before it dissolves. Perhaps this could be written into the bill.

There's plenty of wriggle room there now. Finding the sweet spot would bring the Tories, Lib Dems and SNP on board for an election. That's enough votes to win. The momentum would then force Labour to get behind it.

Everything is right on the edge of being agreed. If Johnson sticks to the date of the 12th and refuses to provide meaningful assurances that he won't bring the Brexit deal forward, we'll know something's up. If he doesn't, then it really will seem that he wants an election and will put the deal on stand-by until it is held. If so, an election is about to take place.

[pretzpol]

Cuts to Corporation Tax: Ideological and Arbitrary

The UK already has a pretty low corporate tax rate, at 20% - it’s the lowest in the G20. VAT is also 20% (fairly standard internationally), and so is the basic rate of income tax. In fact, the headline rate of Capital Gains Tax was also just cut from 28% to 20%. The Conservative party must really love that number.

But the Tories, in their ideological pursuit of making the UK a tax haven, have a commitment to reducing CT. It was 28% when the coalition Government came in in 2010 (for profits >£1.5m, 21% for profits <£300k, marginal rate in between), having seen various changes under Labour from 1997-2008. The coalition gradually cut it over 5 years to 20% for all companies, and with the Tories in full control, planned to cut it further, first to 19%, and then to 17%, presumably to 15%, or maybe lower, perhaps in line with Ireland’s low 12.5% (Northern Ireland has devolved CT powers and already has a 12.5% CT rate).

Is this a good thing? Debateable. The right have argued since time immemorial that having lower taxes produces a trickle-down effect, supposedly propelling private sector investment (quite transparent nonsense, it just gives the rich more wealth that they don’t spend), but there are claims that CT receipts have risen as a result of the rate cuts. Misleading claims, but claims nonetheless (take that as you will).

Disregarding facts, as is apparently popular in modern politics, the idea is to draw business to the UK. And probably to irk other EU countries as a middle finger now that we’re leaving, TerriMay planning to trigger Article 50 next month, Parliamentary Ping-Pong permitting.

So I think I’m clear that the cuts are ideological, with the only benefit going to big business, with the intention to draw large multinationals to the UK.

In or out of the EU, London is a business hub, as is much of the South East, and many of the UK’s major cities in other regions of the country, albeit perhaps a bit less so. Business wants to invest here because as an established economy, Britain is a good place to invest, CT rate regardless.

It makes the most sense to have a return to banded Corporation Tax, with small companies maybe paying a rate lower than 20%, but larger companies paying a higher rate than 20%.

But let’s play devil’s advocate - let’s pretend arbitrary cuts to business taxes work as intended, and that a less taxed free market benefits everyone, not just people with pre-existing capital. I would argue that even following this logic, tax cuts could be made that would benefit the economy as a whole far moreso than a simple cut to Corporation Tax.

So with the budget coming up, what “pro-business” moves could the Government take instead of reducing the CT rate and triggering a race-to-the-bottom on business tax, when we should be seeing an international movement to push it up (and regulate private industry, and move shares into the hands of the workers, and so on...)? There’s no real persuading the Tories from cutting some kind of tax, after all (they cut everything else, why not taxes too?) So here are a few alternative ideas.

Realistically, as part of a comprehensive tax policy, Inheritance Tax needs reviewing, as do Capital Gains Tax, Income Tax on dividends and rental income, and the possibility of introducing a Land Value Tax and a Luxury Goods Tax should be looked into - but let’s focus purely on business taxes for the purposes of this.

Increasing the VAT registration threshold

As an accountant, I have seen many small business get hit as soon as they start to get going, by VAT - the cost involved in preparing and submitting returns every three months, or every month, is a massive burden, and a massive time expense by busy entrepreneurs, let alone the cost of the tax itself to both businesses and consumers.

At the moment, a business is required to register for VAT as soon as it turns over £83,000 in the span of 12 months, or it expects to soon. After that, it’s required to submit the aforementioned VAT returns every quarter, and to add 20% to its sales prices to pass over to HMRC, after deducting 20% on any VATable purchases.

£83k is pretty low - most businesses hit this as one-man-bands. I should clarify it is turnover, i.e. sales revenue, not profit, that this £83k represents.

In my opinion it should be at least £150k, probably higher. Aren’t businesses supposed to create jobs? If you slap VAT on them before they start making enough money to employ people, how are they meant to do so?

Additionally, VAT increases the cost of consumer goods for consumers, increasing the cost of living, and keeping the poor, poor. If you want to encourage small business, this would be a far better move.

I’d also suggest reducing VAT in general, since it hits the poor more than it hits the rich, thereby being a regressive tax, but since the Coalition increased it from the lower rate Labour left it with, I think it’s unlikely that’s on the table for TerriMay and her team.

Increasing the Personal Allowance.

By all accounts, someone working 40 hours a week at minimum wage (which, in spite of its rebranding, is not a living wage), should not be paying income tax. This is something UKIP, of all parties, pushed for at the 2015 GE, and left-wing parties should be pushing for more strongly. This is the approach the Government should be taking to reduce personal tax liabilities, not moving the basic rate band and higher rate bands around - not so subtly done so that Lib-Con swing voters might be more inclined to vote blue in 2020.

Doing this would increase the net income of working people to be in line with living costs, increasing the velocity of money (because poor people spend their money, while rich people save it), and reducing inequality (by ensuring poor people have enough money to actually live). This is good for business because it means more people are able to spend more money.

Increase the Primary Threshold for NI

National Insurance is a mess. Thankfully, Class 2 NICs (weekly contributions of £2.80/wk for any self-employed people earning over £5k or so), are being phased out. But as the Personal Allowance has gone up for Income Tax, the Primary Threshold, the point at which people start paying NI, has stayed roughly steady, with employed people paying Class 1 Primary NICs at 12% starting from about £8k, and at 2% starting at the higher rate threshold, and self-employed people paying Class 4 NICs at 9% starting at about £8k, and at 2% starting at the higher rate threshold.

There should be a move to combine National Insurance and Income Tax - since they’re almost the same thing anyway. Income Tax at 20% and NI at 12% is basically just Income Tax at 32%, with the next band being 42% and then 47%.

The NI bands should be moved perfectly to mirror the Income Tax bands, and self-employed people can get a 2% or 3% tax credit so they don’t lose out on the lower C4NI rate. Class 1 Secondary NICs (Employer’s National Insurance) should obviously be handled separately, as should industries such as share fishing which have different rates - but that doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be a general move as I describe.

The arguments for this are basically as above for the Personal Allowance - lower earners having more money to spend, therefore more money gets spent on consumer goods.

Eliminate Employer’s National Insurance for under 25s

There is a crisis of youth unemployment in the UK, and across the western world. Young people can’t get jobs because employers only want people with both experience and qualifications, even though these young people are fresh out of uni or college, and know their stuff, and are eager to work. Another issue is that people are living longer, and are working longer, meaning fewer job vacancies are being freed up, and new ones aren’t being created because of stagnating industry.

Separately, once in work, young people are devoted employees, driving themselves to the point of developing mental health issues (additional source: me) - but they aren’t really being hired in the first place, which also drives mental illness.

So the Government needs to intervene, and introduce incentives for businesses to employ young people so they can actually get experience and become noticed by potential employers. Employer’s National Insurance is a cost employer’s take on by employing staff, originally as a “you pay a bit, and you pay a bit, and you both benefit,” as NI is explicitly used for funding pensions and the NHS.

Employer’s NICs were already eliminated for under 21s under the Cameron Government, but they should go further and tell employers “you don’t have this cost for under 25s,” so that employers will be more inclined to actually train staff.

Introduce a CT credit for employee costs

Youth unemployment (and underemployment) isn’t the only issue - unemployment is an issue in general. This could be tackled through tax incentives - although it would be best as a package deal alongside contract regulation and industry investment.

CT is charged on profits, so say a company had sales of £500k, general costs of £200k, and staff costs of £50k - their profit is £250k, and taxed at 20%, their CT is £50k.

I propose companies get a CT credit for their staff costs, so that they’re more likely to be willing to spend money on staff. Employment and training should be seen as an investment, not as a cost.

i.e., with the same example as above, the company could claim £25k (50% of their staff costs) as a further reduction of their taxable profits - down to £225k, reducing their tax by £5k, down to £45k.

This would also serve to make things like minimum wage increases more palatable.

Increase R&D tax credits

Research and development is very important, and is surely the actual kind of investment the UK needs. If the Government wants to draw overseas investment through CT incentives, it should be with a move like increasing R&D tax credits - a nominal increase in R&D expenditure to reduce CT charged.

Increasing subsidies for green industry

For heaven’s sake this one should be obvious. Solar panels, wind turbines, water turbines and tidal plant components are crucial to our survival as a species, let alone country - or at the very least, to our current way of life. Want to go back to strike-induced power cuts? Skyrocketing fuel prices? Plastics and pharmaceutical prices shooting up? Welcome to a future where crude oil is near unobtainable. And that’s without even looking at air pollution and climate change. The people of Fiji say hi.

Of course, instead of reindustrialising the north by investing in green industry, the Government is cutting solar panel subsidies for reasons that make no sense, and approving technology known to cause tremors, poison water, and serves as a terrible stopgap when alternatives are vastly superior.

Also, electric cars and corresponding infrastructure - where are they? Jobs could be created by manufacturing charging points, and putting them in appropriate locations. Should we not be investing in hybrid and electric vehicles that meet the various criteria that drivers have for purchasing vehicles? That’s the main reason they haven’t taken off yet, really. Invest in that, and regulate petrol and diesel cars away. Encourage people to buy and drive hybrid and electric.

In conclusion, the Government could achieve its goals by doing the above instead of reducing Corporation Tax. It should also completely reconsider how Corporation Tax rates are balanced, as receipts from small business are rising, whilst receipts from large business are falling. But no, they’re too ideologically committed to making us a tax haven. I wonder who benefits from that?

I’m a trainee accountant, so I have a degree of tax knowledge - I do not claim to be an expert, and definitely not infallible. I welcome constructive feedback on the above, as I’m always looking to learn.

[winterolympicssports2018-blog]

Parliamentary speaker voices hopes for resolution of political conflicts through sports

Click here for More Olympics Updates https://www.winterolympian.com/parliamentary-speaker-voices-hopes-for-resolution-of-political-conflicts-through-sports/

Parliamentary speaker voices hopes for resolution of political conflicts through sports

SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) — South Korean National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun expressed hopes Tuesday that sports will play a role in addressing political conflicts, during his dinner meeting with the joint team of South and North Korean taekwondo demonstrators.

The team has staged performances here in celebration of the Feb. 9-25 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. The group of North Korean practitioners, led by Ri Yong-son, head of the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF), is set to return home Thursday.

“It is not difficult to find cases of sports serving as a medium to overcome political conflicts and promote peace … the ping pong diplomacy is a representative case,” Chung said, referring to the exchange of table tennis players between the United States and China in the early 1970s, which led to a thaw in their ties.

“(I hope) taekwondo people will work to help usher in a new era of reconciliation and cooperation,” he added.

Seoul has been seeking to use Pyongyang’s participation in the Olympics in the South to boost momentum for inter-Korean dialogue and reconciliation, and pave the way for the resumption of denuclearization talks.

Squeezed by tough international sanctions, Pyongyang has also been holding out an olive branch to Seoul, a move which critics say is intended to weaken global unity in the enforcement of the sanctions and drive a wedge between Seoul and Washington.

During the dinner gathering, Ri said that he would work to promote unity and reconciliation among Koreans.

“I anticipate that the Olympics will proceed successfully in line with its noble spirits, and contribute to fostering the mood for reconciliation and unification among Koreans,” Ri said.

South Korea’s National Assembly Speaker, Chung Sye-kyun (L), and Ri Yong-son, head of the International Taekwondo Federation, clink glasses during a dinner meeting at Chung’s official residence in Seoul on Feb. 13, 2018. (Yonhap)

sshluck@yna.co.kr

(END)

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[narcisbolgor-blog]

Brexit: David Davis warns MPs to leave bill unchanged – BBC News

Image copyright AFP/Getty Images

Image caption David Davis wants the prime minister to be free to get on with the job of triggering Brexit

The Brexit secretary has urged MPs to leave the bill for exiting the EU unchanged when it is debated in the Commons on Monday.

David Davis said he will ask MPs to throw out measures to allow for a "meaningful" parliamentary vote on the final exit package.

If MPs pass the bill, the prime minister could trigger Article 50 as early as Tuesday.

Theresa May has said she would rather walk away than agree to a "bad deal".

Monday will be the second time MPs debate and vote on the EU withdrawal bill.

Ping pong bill

Mr Davis will also call on the Commons to consider a vote that guarantees the rights of EU citizens in the UK.

"However they voted in the referendum, the majority of people now want the prime minister to be able to get on with the job," he said.

The amendments were made to the Brexit bill after they were backed by a majority of peers, most recently last week.

Labour, which claims it is the only party with a "radical vision" for Brexit, has also appealed to Mrs May to let them go through.

The bill could complete its final stages on Monday if the Lords accepts the decisions made by MPs when it votes on it earlier in the day.

Image copyright Getty Images

Image caption Theresa May has repeatedly said that no deal for Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain

Meanwhile, an influential committee of MPs has said there was a real possibility the talks could end with no resolution and called on ministers to draw up a plan if a deal fails to be agreed.

"It is clear from our evidence that a complete breakdown in negotiations represents a very destructive outcome, leading to mutually assured damage for the EU and the UK," the Commons foreign affairs committee said.

"Both sides would suffer economic loss and harm to their international reputations."

Failure to prepare for such outcome would be a "serious dereliction of duty," the MPs said.

Brexit: All you need to know

The UK's Brexit plans: Theresa May sets out her approach

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said the government had been "reckless" not to prepare for a Leave vote and also in its approach to Article 50 negotiations.

"All we have heard from the government so far is that if there is no deal, they are prepared to "break the British economic model".

"There are some very serious issues highlighted in this report which must be addressed. It is completely inadequate to brush these questions off and claim what would happen without a deal is "an exercise in guesswork"."

The UK could trigger Article 50, the formal process for leaving the EU, as early as Tuesday, if MPs accept the amendments.

Once Mrs May starts the process it will begin a two-year period of negotiation.

Parliament involvement

Conservatives Alistair Burt and Jeremy Lefroy have said Parliament should have a proper role in the plans.

Writing in the Mail on Sunday, they said there is "determination" by ministers to be involved in talks whether an agreement is reached and if there is a no deal.

"There is an absolute logic that Parliament should be given a say in both circumstances but the government has been reluctant to agree to a vote in the case of no deal, arguing it would hamper negotiations.

"But if the UK's stance is not weakened by having to seek a vote on a final deal, why should the government fear a vote on "no deal"?

"Just because the consequences of a vote at the end of the process are immense, there is no reason to deny Parliament that vote."

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Brexit Briefing: May Set to Reject Lords Amendment to Brexit Bill

Talking Points

– The UK’s upper house will likely vote late Tuesday in favor of an amendment to the Brexit Bill.

– However, chances are it will be rejected by the lower house, which has the final say.

– See the DailyFX Economic Calendar and see what live coverage for key event risk impacting FX markets is scheduled for the week on the DailyFX Webinar Calendar.

The House of Lords, the unelected upper house of the Westminster Parliament, is expected late Tuesday to pass an amendment to the Brexit Bill, requiring Parliamentary approval of any final agreement between the UK Government and the EU on the terms of the UK’s departure from the bloc.

However, any such amendment is likely to be thrown out by the elected House of Commons as UK Prime Minister Theresa May has made clear she wants the Bill to pass through the legislative process unaltered.

While the UK Parliament plays ping-pong with the Bill, the British Pound has fallen to its lowest level for seven weeks against the US Dollar as signs begin to emerge that the UK economy is beginning to suffer from the Brexit uncertainty.

Chart: GBPUSD Daily Timeframe (January-March 2017)

Chart by IG

Data released Tuesday by the Halifax mortgage lender showed annual UK house price inflation fell to its lowest since July 2013 in February, hurt by increasingly squeezed consumer finances. A report by the British Retail Consortium showed prices in UK shops fell at the lowest annual rate in more than three years last month, adding to signs of growing inflationary pressures after last year’s post-referendum fall in the Pound. And market researcher Kantar Worldpanel reported that UK food price inflation has doubled in a month.

This all poses a headache for UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond, who presents the UK Budget to Parliament Wednesday. He has promised to keep “reserves in the tank” to see the economy through the Brexit process, which will last at least two more years, signaling little room for the announcement of extra spending despite recent good news on UK borrowing.

In an interview, he said tensions are now easing with other EU countries. However, Germany’s hard-line Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble told a group of foreign journalists in Berlin Tuesday that he believes the Brexit negotiations will be difficult and complicated. He said that at the conclusion of the negotiations it should be clear to everyone that remaining inside the EU has more advantages than being outside.

Overall, therefore, the chances of an imminent strong rally by the Pound seem slim following its steady decline against the Dollar since the beginning of last month.

Markets

Index / Exchange Rate

Change (Exchange Hours/GMT Session Rollover)

Market Close/Last

FTSE 100

-0.10%

7,341

DAX

+0.01%

11,959

GBP/USD

-0.39%

1.2190

EUR/USD

-0.09%

1.0574

EUR/GBP

+0.28%

0.8673

Upcoming UK/EU Event Risk

Events

Date, Time (GMT)

Forecast

Previous

German Industrial Production s.a. (MoM) (Jan)

Mar 8, 0700

2.6%

-3.0%

German Industrial Production n.s.a. and w.d.a. (YoY) (Jan)

Mar 8, 0700

-0.6%

-0.7%

UK Budget

Mar 8, 1230

— Written by Martin Essex, Analyst and Editor

To contact Martin, email him at martin.essex@ig.com

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