Category: Legislation

Posted on

Automated Vehicles Act 2024 receives Royal Assent

On 20 May 2024, the Automated Vehicles Act 2024 received Royal Assent. The Act says that it will regulate the use of automated vehicles on roads and other public locations, and introduce provisions on vehicle automation. The UK Government also published a news story.

Some of the key points of the Automated Vehicle Act 2024 are:

– It sets out a scheme of authorisation for automated road vehicles (see Part 1). This includes (a) a system of authorisation (see Chapter 1 of Part 1), (b) licensing of operators for vehicle use without a user-in-charge (see Chapter 2 of Part 1), (c) provisions allowing regulatory bodies to ask for information (see Chapter 3 of Part 1), (d) introducing investigatory powers (see Chapter 4 of Part 1), (e) introducing civil sanctions against regulatory bodies (see Chapter 5 of Part 1) and (f) making other regulatory powers and duties (see Chapter 6 of Part 1).

– It introduces criminal liability for vehicle use (including stop and seize powers an offence of using a vehicle without driver or licenced oversight).

– It gives powers to the Police including stop and seizure powers (see Part 3).

The Act will come into force on a future date. The Secretary of State will need to make a commencement order.

Posted on

HM Treasury publishes new amending regulations changing the form and content of default, enforcement and termination notices

On 11 November 2020, HM Treasury laid before Parliament the Consumer Credit (Enforcement, Default and Termination Notices) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 and published an explanatory memorandum.

These regulations amend the Consumer Credit (Enforcement, Default and Termination Notices) Regulations 1983, which prescribe the form and content of:

– an enforcement notice under Section 76(1) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974;

– a default notice under Section 87(1) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974; and

– a termination notice under Section 98(1) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

These changes make significant changes to the form and content of such notices. The changes come into force on 2 December 2020.

By Regulation 9 of the Consumer Credit (Enforcement, Default and Termination Notices) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020, there is a transitional period of six months from 2 December 2020 during which time a notice under Sections 76(1), 87(1) or 98(1) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 will be compliant if it complies with the Consumer Credit (Enforcement, Default and Termination Notices) Regulations 1983 immediately before its amendment on 2 December 2020.

Posted on

HM Treasury publishes revised draft statutory instrument: the Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space Moratorium and Mental Health Crisis Moratorium) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020

Earlier today, on 10 September 2020, HM Treasury published a revised statutory instrument: the Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space Moratorium and Mental Health Crisis Moratorium) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020.  This replaces the draft published on 15 July 2020.

You can view the draft revised statutory instrument by clicking here, and view the explanatory memorandum by clicking here and the impact assessment by clicking here.

Posted on

Goods Mortgages Bill has first reading in the House of Lords

On 5 February 2020, a private members bill, the Goods Mortgages Bill [HL] 2019-2020, had its first reading in the House of Lords. If it becomes law, this bill proposes to abolish the existing laws on bills of sale and create a new system for non-possessory rights.

This is not, of course, the first time such legislation has been suggested. The Law Commission recommended new legislation but Treasury later decided, in May 2018, not to move forward with legislation. A previous private members bill did not progress because Parliament was dissolved in December 2019.

No date has yet to be sent for a second reading.