BLS Responses to Consultation papers

Our views on matters

The Birmingham Law Society is consulted by many bodies and organisations for its views on matters.

These include national and local government, The Law Society of England and Wales, the Solicitors Regulation Authority as well as independent inquiries. The Society has a number of specialist groups which contribute their expertise to the work of the Professional Regulation Committee. Responses to these consultations are then prepared on behalf of the Society by the Committee and sent out by the President.

A list of recent consultations and the response to each on behalf of the Society follows.
Jayne Willetts, Chair of the Professional Regulation Committee

2019

» Response to the Legal Ombudsman Discussion Paper “Transparency and Reporting Impact” – 09.12.19
» Response to the SRA Consultation – Assuring Advocacy Standards – 23.10.19
» Response to the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Consultation – Transparency: Flexible working and family related leave and pay policies – 11.10.19
» Response to the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy / Low Pay Commission Consultation – Good Work Plan: one-sided flexibility – addressing unfair flexible working practices – 07.10.19
» Response to the Department of Work and Pensions / Department of Health and Social Care Consultation – Health is everyone’s business: proposal to reduce ill health-related job loss – 04.10.19
» Response to the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Consultation – Establishing a new Single Enforcement Body for employment rights – 04.10.19
» Response to the Government Equalities Office Consultation – Sexual Harassment in the Workplace – 02.10.19
» Response to the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Consultation – Supporting parents of babies requiring neonatal care – 19.09.19
» Response to the BCC Consultation – Statement of Community Involvement – 06.09.19
» Response to the Sentencing Council Consultation – Overarching Principles: Sentencing offenders with mental health conditions or disorders – 09.07.19
» Response to the HM Treasury Consultation – Restricting exit payments in the public sector – 02.07.19
» Response to the Ministry of Justice Consultation – Extending Fixed Recoverable Costs in civil cases in England and Wales – 06.06.19
» Birmingham Law Society Response to HMRC Consultation Off-payroll working rules – 30.04.19
» Response to the Law Commission Consultation – Leasehold Home Ownership: Exercising the right to manage – 30.04.19
» Response to the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy – Confidentiality clauses: consultation on measures to prevent misuse in situations of workplace harassment or discrimination – 15.04.19
» Response to the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy – Pregnancy and maternity discrimination: extending redundancy protection for women and new parents – 05.04.19
» House of Commons Justice Committee inquiry on HMCTS Court and Tribunal Reforms – 11.03.19
» Response from the Criminal Law Committee
» Response from the Family Law Committee
» Response from the Personal Injury Committee
» Response to the Law Commission Consultation – Ethnicity Pay Reporting – 10.01.19
» Response to the Law Commission Consultation – Employment Law Hearing Structures – 10.01.19
» Leasehold home ownership – BLS Consultation response – 07.01.19

2018

» Response to the SRA Consultation – Reporting Concerns – 07.09.2018
» Response to the Sentencing Council Consultation – General guideline for offences not covered by specific guidance – 31.08.18
» Response to the Law Commission Consultation – Search Warrants – 31.08.18
» Letter to the Legal Services Board re SRA Handbook: application for approval of amendments – 28.08.18
» Response to the SRA Consultation – Protecting the users of legal services: balancing cost and access to legal services – 14.06.2018
» Response to the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy – The Taylor Review on Modern Working Practices – Employment status – 31.05.18
» Response to the Home Office and Ministry of Justice Consultation – Transforming the response to domestic abuse – 31.05.18
» Response to the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy – Parental bereavement leave and pay – 22.05.18
» Response to the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy – The Taylor Review on Modern Working Practices – Increasing transparency in the labour market – 22.05.18
» Response to the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy – The Taylor Review on Modern Working Practices – Enforcement on employment rights recommendations – 15.05.18
» Response to the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy – The Taylor Review on Modern Working Practices – Agency workers’ recommendations – 08.05.18
» Response to the Law Commission’s Commonhold Call for Evidence  – 16.04.18

2017

» Response to the SRA Consultation – Looking to the future: better information, more choice – 20.12.2017
» Response to the SRA Consultation – Looking to the future: Phase Two of our Handbook reforms – 20.12.2017
» Response to the Department of Communities and Local Government Call for Evidence on Improving the home buying and selling process – 16.12.2017
» Response to the The Law Society Consultation on Standard of proof applied by the SDT – 31.10.2017
» Response to the Government Equalities Office Consultation on Caste in Great Britain – 18.09.2017
» Response to the Department of Communities and Local Government on Tackling unfair practices in the leasehold market – 19.08.2017
» Response to the Department of Health Consultation on Fixed recoverable costs for clinical negligence claims – 02.05.2017
» Response to the Ministry of Justice Consultation – Litigator’s Graduated Fee Scheme and court appointees – 24.03.2017
» Response to the Ministry of Justice Consultation – Review of the Introduction of fees in Employment Tribunals – 14.03.2017
» Response to the Ministry of Justice Consultation – Reforming the Advocates Graduated Fee Scheme – 27.02.2017
» Response to the Lord Jackson Review of Fixed Recoverable Costs (BLS Person Injury Committee’s response) – 30.01.2017
» Response to the Lord Jackson Review of Fixed Recoverable Costs (BLS Dispute Resolution Committee’s response) – 30.01.2017
» Response to Department of Business Energy & Industrial Strategy consultation on Reforming the Employment Tribunal System – 20.01.2017
» Response to the SRA Consultation – A new route to qualification: the Solicitors Qualifying Examination – 03.01.2017

2016

» Response to Government Equalities Office consultation on Mandatory Gender Pay Gap Reporting – 29.09.2016
» Response to the SRA Consultation – Looking to the Future: Flexibility and Public Protection – a phased review of our regulatory approach – 21.09.2016
» Response to the SRA Consultation – Looking to the Future: SRA Accounts Rules Review – 19.09.2016
» Response to the Low Pay Commission consultation on National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage – 29.07.2016
» Response to Department for Business Innovation & Skills consultation on Tips, gratuitites, cover and service charges: proposals for future action – 20.06.2016
» Response to Department for Business Innovation & Skills consultation on moving Land Registry operations to the private sector – 26.05.2016
» Response to Consultation on Compensation for Loss of Pension Rights in Employment Tribunals – 20.05.2016
» Response to Consultation on the Reduction in sentence for a guilty plea guideline – 03.05.2016
» Response to Department for Business Innovation & Skills consultation on Closed recruitment practices in the public sector – 14.04.2016
» Response to the Scottish Government consultation on Draft Order in Council (Scotland Bill) – 14.03.2016
» Response to the SRA Consultation – Training for tomorrow: Assessing competence – 01.03.2016
» Response to the Ministry of Justice Consultation – Use of live links and telephone conferences – 09.02.2016
» Response to the HM Treasury consultation on Higher Rate SDLT – 01.02.2016
» Response to the HM Treasury consultation on Public Sector Exit Regulations – 22.01.2016

2014

» Response to the SRA Consultation – Regulation of Consumer Credit Activities – 15.12.2014
» Response to the Department of Business, Innovation & Skills on Trade Assured Register of Members – 13.11.2014
» Response to the SRA Consultation – Red Tape Initiative Phase 3: Changes to the SRA’s education and training regulations –  27.10.2014
» Response to the Department of Business, Innovation & Skills on Zero hours employment contracts: Banning exclusivity clauses: Tackling avoidance – 21.10.2014
» Response to the Ministry of Justice Consultation on – Transforming Legal Aid: Crime duty contracts – 15.10.2014
» Response to the SRA Call for evidence: Client protection –  30.09.2014
» Response to the SRA Consultation – Proposals to reduce the regulatory burden: Keeping of the roll and residual client balances – 16.05.2014
» Response to the SRA Consultation – Red Tape Initiative: Residual client balances – 16.05.2014
» Response to the Department of Education Consultation – Adoption: Getting it Right, Making it Work – 10.04.2014
» Response to the Consultation on the Introduction of a Land Registry Service Delivery Company – 20.03.2014
» Response to the Department of Business, Innovation & Skills on Zero hours employment contracts – 24.02.2014
» Response to the SRA Consultation – Training for tomorrow: Regulation review – 24.02.2014
» Response to the SRA Consultation – Proposal to increase the SRA’s internal fining powers – 06.02.2014
» Response to the ACAS Consultation on the revision of paragraphs 15 and 36 of the Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures – 09.01.2014

2013

» Response to LSB Consultation on Legal education and training – 09.12.2013
» Response to LSB Consultation on Chairs of Regulatory Bodies – 18.11.2013
» Response to the Ministry of Justice Consultation on – Transforming Legal Aid: The Next Steps – 31.10.2013
» Response to the Department of Business, Innovation & Skills on The Whistleblowing Framework Call for Evidence – 25.10.2013
» Response to the Department for Culture Media & Sport Consultation on Equal pay audits: a further consultation – 18.07.2013
» Response to the SRA Consultation on – Red Tape Initiative 2: Removing unnecessary regulations and simplifying processes – 27.06.2013
» Response to the PCaW Whistleblowing Commission Consultation – 20.06.2013
» Response to the Ministry of Justice Consultation on – Transforming Legal Aid: Delivering a more credible and efficient system – 03.06.2013
» Response to the SRA Consultation on – Exercising the statutory power to pay the cost of firm interventions from the Compensation Fund – 30.05.2013
» Response to the Acas Consultation on – Draft Code of Practice on the extended right to request flexible working – 16.05.2013
» Response to the Department of Business Innovation and Skills Consultation on – Shared Parental Leave – 16.05.2013
» Response to the Ministry of Justice Consultation on – Implementing the Coroner reforms in Part 1 of the Coroners and Justice Act – 15.04.2013
» Response to the Department of Business Innovation and Skills Consultation on – Reforming the regulatory framework for employment agencies and employment businesses – 10.04.2013
» Response to the ACAS Consultation on – Settlement Agreements Code – 09.04.2013
» Response to the Department of Business Innovation and Skills Consultation on – Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 – 08.04.2013
» Response to the Information Commissioner’s Consultation on – Subject access requests under the DPA – 14.02.2013
» Response to the Department for Business and Innovation Skills Consultation on – Early Conciliation – 14.02.2013
» Response to the SRA Consultation on – Removing regulatory restrictions and simplyfying processes (‘red tape initiative’) – 10.01.2013

2012

» Response to the Department for Business and Innovation Skills Consultation on – Ending the Employment Relationship – 22.11.2012
» Response to the Department for Business and Innovation Skills Consultation on – Employment Tribunal Rules – 22.11.2012
» Response to the Bar Standards Board Consultation on – Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates – 01.11.2012
» Response to the Ministry of Justice Consultation on – Transforming the services of the Office of Public Guardian – 19.10.2012
» Response to the HMCTS Consultation on – The future arrangements for listing family work at Solihull Family Proceedings Court – 12.10.2012
» Response to the Ministry of Justice Consultation on Proposals for the joint inspection multi-agency arrangements for the protection of children  – 02.10.2012
» Response to the Department for Business and Innovation Skills Consultation on – Collective Redundancies: Consultation on Changes to the Rules – 17.09.2012
» Response to the SRA Consultation on – Independent Financial Advice – 07.09.2012
» Response to the Consultation on – Questions for the Seller in Residential Conveyancing – 19.04.2012
» Response to the Ministry of Justice Consultation on Charging fees in Employment Law Tribunals & The Employment Appeal Tribunal – 06.03.2012
» Response to the Consultation on – Modernisation of Face to Face Services in the Civial & Family Courts – 02.03.2012
» Response to the Consultation on – Appointments & Diversity
» Response to the Consultation on – The Effectiveness of TUPE – 31.01.2012