Law Commission quinquennial review implementation plan

A review of the Law Commission in 2003 set out 42 recommendations for change. This implementation plan sets out the recommendations and how the Government has responded to them. One is being taken forward separately, two are for the future, and 39 have now been dealt with.

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Executive summary

Recommendations 3 and 41 are for the future. Recommendation 30, which is to initiate a project aimed at identifying special Parliamentary procedures to facilitate scrutiny of Law Commission Bills, is being taken forward separately by us. The major themes of the 39 recommendations are:

• more effective communication between the Law Commission, Government departments and other stakeholders. As a result a 'Vision and Guidance' document, that sets out how the Law Commission and government departments will work together, has been published.
• ensuring that the Law Commission's programmes of law reform are based on the best possible assessment of needs, priorities and resources. Consequently, the Law Commission undertook a wide consultation when preparing its 9th Programme, which was published on 22 March 2005.
• the development of more effective programme and project management at the Law Commission. As a result, the Law Commission has established a new electronic programme management system, which came into operation at the start of the 9th Programme on 1 April 2005.
• improving the processes for deciding on and implementing Law Commission recommendations. As a result, time limits have been set within which Government departments are required to respond to Commission reports.

Useful links

Law Commission

Quinquennial Review of the Law Commission by John Halliday CB, March 2003

'Vision and Guidance' document, which sets out how the Law Commission and government departments will work together

DCA Consultation paper on Appointment of Law Commissioners, June 2004