The Law Commission

PART I

SUMMARY

The year covered by this report was another eventful one for the Law Commission in various ways. Some examples are:

• We published the first part of our report on Renting Homes, a project which affects a third of the population. • We completed a joint project with the Scottish Law Commission on the law of partnership. There are over 500,000 partnerships in the United Kingdom, producing an annual turnover of £136 billion. Partnerships represent an important part of the economy, but they operate under legislation which is over 100 years old and in need of updating. • We completed a project to produce a code of compensation for those whose land is compulsory purchased or affected by development schemes. The present rules are needlessly complex and uncertain. • The Criminal Justice Act 2003 enacted wholly or in part four of our reports: • Evidence in Criminal Proceedings: Hearsay and Related Topics[1] • Double Jeopardy and Prosecution Appeals[2] • Bail and the Human Rights Act 1998[3] • Evidence of Bad Character in Criminal Proceedings[4] • We started a new high profile law reform project on Partial Defences to Murder. • Michael Sayers, our long-serving and highly regarded Chief Executive, retired from the Law Commission on 31 December 2003.

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Note 1   Law Com No 245    [Back]

Note 2   Law Com No 267.    [Back]

Note 3   Law Com No 269.    [Back]

Note 4   Law Com No 273.    [Back]