Media (PR) – #wco Scrutiny (Ruling on expert witnesses worries child-abuse lawyers)

Somebody raised an interesting point.

Subjects: Scrutiny; Family Courts; Justice

Vital expert witnesses may be too afraid to testify because of the “chilling effect” of a Supreme Court ruling that leaves them open to being sued, lawyers warned yesterday.

The ruling last week removed immunity for expert witnesses, reversing more than 300 years of legal protection. Lawyers predict the change will prompt many lawsuits against experts

Comment by #wco: So some “experts” are worried they will be the target of civil suits against them. If their “expert opinion” is valid, then any amount of scrutiny and examination will uphold their view. If anything, the expert witness’s that can prove their opinion will prevail and the justice system become more accurate, predictable and trusted.

The footnote on the familylawweek.co.uk article by James Badenoch QC says “The worry is that expert witnesses will be frightened off by their concerns about being sued. Child protection cases give rise to the greatest concern. Children being maltreated crucially depend on doctors being willing to stand up and give evidence, and this will be another disincentive for those people to be willing to lend their learning.”

Why do these people have any concerns? If they have a valid opinion they can surely trust the legal system they make money from?

Step away from the ivory towers people, and smell the coffee …

Other Contacts:

More information can be read at:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/ruling-on-expert-witnesses-worries-childabuse-lawyers-2260816.html

http://www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=ed81880

Published: 03/04/2011 15:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk

Gov Written Answer – #wco Scrutiny (Cabinet Office: Government: Accountability)

Lloyd, Tony raised an interesting point.

Subjects: Scrutiny; FoI; Governance; Metadata; LocalGov; Parliament-UK

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he plans to take to increase levels of transparency in Government decision-making in order to improve accountability to the public.

Comment by #wco: We like this, however as part of the Big Society, more and more services will be delivered by organisations that are not subject to FOI requests – we suggest the following changes to FOI legislation:
where a civic service or function is provided,
or where a partnership exists where one parter is already subject to FOI then that subsequent provider and partnership is also a “derived” subject to FOI requests
in addition, the preamble to the legislation is to inclusive, rather that prescriptive for organisations to be subject to it. ie, any organisation spending central/local government money is subject to FOI unless specifically time-limited excluded – with scrutiny for the decision.

Other Contacts: Maude, Francis

More information can be read at:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2011-03-01a.42563.h

https://sites.google.com/site/thirdchamber/platform#TOC-Justice-Democracy

Published: 01/03/2011 12:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk

Gov Written Answer – #wco Scrutiny (Prime Minister: Childhood and Families Ministerial Taskforce)

Shuker, Gavin raised an interesting point.

Subjects: Scrutiny; Childcare; Education; Equality; Parenting

To ask the Prime Minister

(1) on which dates the Childhood and Families Taskforce has met; which Ministers were in attendance on each such occasion; and who else attended;

(2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the terms of reference of the Childhood and Families Taskforce;

(3) when he expects the Childhood and Families Taskforce to report;

(4) whether the Childhood and Families Taskforce will be taking (a) oral and (b) written evidence in the course of its work.

Comment by #wco: So what is the point of the task force if we cannot see the results?

Other Contacts: Cameron, David

More information can be read at:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2011-02-28b.41866.h

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2010-11-08b.22371.h

Published: 28/02/2011 12:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk

Gov Written Answer – #wco Scrutiny (Prime Minister: Childhood & Family Task Force)

Trickett, Jon raised an interesting point.

Subjects: Scrutiny; Childcare; NRP Rights; Parenting

To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions the Childhood and Family Task Force has met to date; and who attended each such meeting.

Comment by #wco:

Other Contacts: Cameron, David

More information can be read at:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2010-11-08a.22371.h

Published: 08/11/2010 00:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk

Gov Written Answer – #wco Scrutiny (House of Lords: High Court: Records)

Lester, Anthony raised an interesting point.

Subjects: Scrutiny; Family Courts; Governance

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to give the public direct access to the official digital records of High Court proceedings.

Comment by #wco:
“All these records should be public record, how on earth can justice be seen to be done if external scrutiny is not permitted?”

Other Contacts: McNally, Tom

More information can be read at:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2010-09-27a.541.0

http://sites.google.com/site/thirdchamber/platform#TOC-Crime

Published: 27/09/2010 00:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk

Gov Written Answer – #wco Scrutiny (House of Lords: EU: Legislation)

Scrymgeour, Alexander raised an interesting point.

Subjects: Scrutiny; Democracy; Legislation; Parliament-EU; Parliament-UK

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to help strengthen the scrutiny by national parliaments of proposed European legislation.

Comment by #wco:
“”

Other Contacts: Howell, David

More information can be read at:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2010-09-27a.481.6

Published: 27/09/2010 00:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk

Gov Written Answer – #wco Scrutiny (Cabinet Office: Data Protection)

Swinson, Jo raised an interesting point.

Subjects: Scrutiny; Democracy; FoI; LocalGov; Metadata; Technology

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to bring forward legislation to enshrine a right to data, as set out in the coalition agreement; and if he will make a statement.

Other Contacts: Maude, Francis

More information can be read at:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2010-09-16a.15690.h

Published: 16/09/2010 00:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk