A landmark year for law reform

July 7 2009

The Law Commission celebrates a significant year of change in the publication of its 43rd annual report today.

2008-09 has seen the introduction of a new parliamentary procedure for considering technical Law Commission Bills, which enables important legal reforms to be implemented more speedily and effectively.

It has also seen the introduction of the Law Commission Bill, which places a statutory duty on the Lord Chancellor to report annually to Parliament on the Government's intentions regarding outstanding Law Commission recommendations. The Bill also provides a statutory backing to a protocol to underpin the way the Government works with the Commission.

The Rt Hon Lord Justice Etherton, Chairman of the Law Commission, said

"This has been a significant year in the history of the Commission, with some far reaching reforms to enhance its status and effectiveness. It also marks the final reporting year of my chairmanship.

I have always considered it a great privilege to be appointed Chairman of a body whose influence stretches across all areas of the law and is held in such high regard by Government, Parliamentarians, judges, legal practitioners and academics.

The establishment of the Commission was an inspired act of Government, born of the belief that it is the constitutional right of every citizen to accessible, intelligible, fair and modern law. The recent reforms provide the Commission with the finest opportunity it has had for many years to fulfil the hopes of those upon whose dream it was founded".

To view a copy of the annual report please click here.