Scottish Law Commission looks forward to 50th anniversary
The Scottish Law Commission's 50th anniversary is anticipated in the Commission's annual report for the year to 31 December 2014, published today.
The report reviews progress on the Commission’s law reform work during 2014, and intended publications during 2015.
Last year the Commission published two reports, on Trust Law, and on Adults with Incapacity, and two discussion papers, on Third Party Rights in Contract and on Compulsory Purchase.
Along with the Law Commission for England & Wales, the Commission published a joint report on Insurance Contract Law; and both Commissions combined with the Northern Ireland Law Commission to deliver a joint report on Regulation of Healthcare Professionals and a joint consultation paper on Electoral Law.
Most of the Commission's projects which were uncompleted as at 31 December have been carried forward into its ninth programme, covering the three years 2015-2017, which will be published shortly once it is formally approved by Scottish ministers.
During 2015 the Commission is aiming to publish reports on two of these projects – Moveable Transactions, and Third Party Rights in Contract. The first half of the year should also see its Twentieth Joint Report with the Law Commission on Statute Law Repeals, and later in the year it expects to publish substantive recommendations on the joint project on electoral law.
The first significant event celebrating the Commission's anniversary year will be its hosting the biennial
conference of the Commonwealth Association of Law Reform Agencies, in Edinburgh in April.
Marking the end of his first year as chairman of the Commission, Lord Pentland notes that the increasing complexity and diversity of life in Scotland means that it is more important than ever to ensure that the law is kept up to date. He praises the new procedure introduced in the Scottish Parliament for the implementation of Commission reports, welcoming it as a “great step forward”. The procedure, with a revised remit for the Delegated Powers & Law Reform Committee, is being used for the first time for the Legal Writings (Counterparts and Delivery) (Scotland) Bill.
The chairman records thanks to two commissioners who demitted office at the end of 2014: Patrick Layden QC and Laura Dunlop QC, and welcomes their successors, David Johnston QC and Caroline Drummond, solicitor.