Public Law

Sep

2011

The ban on “bulk buying” of alcohol will be largely avoidable, and may be unenforceable anyway

“LEGISLATION CONTAINS LOOPHOLES, LEADS TO UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES” is up there with “DOG BITES MAN, WORLD IN SHOCK” and “EXCLUSIVE: URSINES PREFER ARBOREAL TOILETRY ARRANGEMENTS” in the surprising headline stakes. But it seems that retailers will be able to circumvent the prohibition in the Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Act 2010 on BOGOF (Buy One Get One Free) and other ‘multi-buy’ offers…. Read more »

Posted by Charles Livingstone

On September 30, 2011

Sep

2011

Public Law

FOI: In the know

What better way to mark International Right to Know Day 2011 than for the Scottish Information Commissioner to launch new web resources for Scottish public authorities as an aid for authorities to assess and improve their FOI practice. The Commissioner has a duty to promote good practice amongst Scottish public authorities in the provision of… Read more »

Posted by Government, Regulation and Competition Law

On September 30, 2011

Sep

2011

Public Law

The PVG Scheme – starting the debate

This week Jackie and I delivered the first of our seminars on the PVG Scheme. There was a healthy debate at the end of the session on how the PVG Scheme has fared so far and is operating in practice. Our guest speaker, Stuart McQueen of Clackmannanshire Council, revealed that local authorities have set up… Read more »

Posted by Niall McLean

On September 16, 2011

Sep

2011

Public Law

Know your role – Crown guide for experts

Having spent most of the last month in hearings I’ve had a great deal of time to think about the role a witness plays in proceedings. In regulatory prosecutions an expert witness has a special role. Lawyers will often instruct an expert to provide a report and then appear as a witness at a hearing in… Read more »