Safety Case Officer

Arbitration analysis: On 22 June 2023, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled that a foreign plaintiff could sustain a civil Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) suit against a defendant evading enforcement of a foreign arbitral award if the plaintiff’s alleged injury arose in the US. The court’s ruling provides a new tool for foreign plaintiffs to enforce arbitral awards and foreign judgments that do not have a direct nexus to the US, and potentially exposes those who help debtors conceal assets. Written by David Earnest and Julian Cokic, Diamond McCarthy LLP.

Emergency shutdown of a nuclear reactor involving insertion of control rods.

The Select Committee on Statutory Instruments (SCSI) has confirmed that no SIs considered at its meeting were reported.

The Select Committee on Statutory Instruments (SCSI) has published its fifth report of session 2024-2025. At its meeting on 5 February 2025 the Committee scrutinised a number of instruments in accordance with Standing Orders. It was agreed that the special attention of the House of Commons should be drawn to none of those considered. The SCSI is appointed to consider statutory instruments made in exercise of powers granted by an Act of Parliament. It carries out the same duties as the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments (JCSI) in respect of those instruments laid before and subject to proceedings in the House of Commons only.

The Select Committee on Statutory Instruments (SCSI) published its second report of session 2024–2025. The SCSI is appointed to consider statutory instruments made in exercise of powers granted by an Act of Parliament. It carries out the same duties as the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments (JCSI) in respect of those instruments laid before and subject to proceedings in the House of Commons only. At its meeting on 6 November 2024, the Committee scrutinised a number of instruments in accordance with Standing Orders. It was agreed that the special attention of both Houses should be drawn to none of those considered.

The Select Committee on Statutory Instruments (SCSI) has published its sixth report of session 2024-2025. At its meeting on 5 March 2025 the Committee scrutinised a number of instruments in accordance with Standing Orders. It was agreed that the special attention of the House of Commons should be drawn to none of those considered. The SCSI is appointed to consider statutory instruments made in exercise of powers granted by an Act of Parliament. It carries out the same duties as the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments (JCSI) in respect of those instruments laid before and subject to proceedings in the House of Commons only.

The Select Committee on Statutory Instruments (SCSI) has published its report on instruments scrutinised pursuant to its statutory remit, drawing the special attention of the House to S.I. 2025/386, the Taxes and Duties, Etc (Interest Rate) (Amendment) Regulations 2025. This instrument, which increases the late payment interest rate on amounts due to HM Revenue and Customs, was laid on 26 March 2025 and came into force on 6 April 2025, thereby breaching the mandatory 21‐day interval prescribed for negative instruments. His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, on behalf of HM Treasury, acknowledged this breach in a departmental memorandum, apologising and explaining that the timing coincided with other tax debt measures announced at the Autumn Budget and reiterated during the Spring Statement. The Committee emphasised that the 21-day rule is critical to allow affected parties adequate time to understand and respond to legislative changes and accordingly reported the instrument for failing to comply with proper legislative practice.

The Select Committee on Statutory Instruments (SCSI) has published its fourth report of session 2024-2025. The following statutory instrument was drawn to the special attention of the House: The Meteorological Office Trading Fund (Maximum Borrowing) (Amendment) Order 2024. The SCSI is appointed to consider statutory instruments made in exercise of powers granted by an Act of Parliament. It carries out the same duties as the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments (JCSI) in respect of those instruments laid before and subject to proceedings in the House of Commons only. At its meeting on 15 January 2025, the Committee scrutinised a number of instruments in accordance with Standing Orders. It was agreed that the special attention of the House of Commons should be drawn to one of those considered.

The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) has announced significant updates to Civil Online, scheduled for implementation in October 2025. Developed by the Civil Lab, these enhancements form part of SCTS’s wider initiative to deliver fully digital, end-to-end civil court services. The updates will enhance usability, expand case tracking, and improve access to documents and functionality across the Sheriff Court and the Supreme Courts. Key improvements include the ability to submit non-initiating documents and view a broader range of motion-related materials in the Court of Session, along with expanded case tracking and access to previously unavailable documents in the Sheriff Court. All courts will benefit from increased file upload limits and visibility of pending documents.

The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) has launched the latest enhancements to Civil Online, introducing digital submission of non-initiating documents in the Court of Session for around 90% of case types, alongside improved case tracking in the Sheriff Court. The update expands document visibility, increases upload limits to 125MB for up to ten files per submission, and supports a broader range of case types. These changes aim to make civil processes more efficient, transparent, and user-friendly, representing a significant step towards a fully digital, end-to-end civil justice system under the Civil Change Lab’s modernisation strategy.

The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) has launched a new ordinary actions case tracker as part of civil online. This tool aims to improve the efficiency of legal proceedings in Scotland by enhancing the management and tracking of civil cases.