The single justice procedure was introduced on 13 April 2015. The relevant provisions are under sections 16A–16F of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (MCA 1980) which are supplemented by the Criminal Procedure Rules 2025 (CrimPR 2025), SI 2025/909. The aim of the single justice procedure is to more efficiently deal with high volume, low-level crime without the need for the parties to attend a hearing. The statutory framework for automatic online conviction and penalty under MCA 1980, ss 16G–16M came into force on 7 November 2023. It provides for defendants charged with specified summary-only, non-imprisonable offences to accept a conviction and prescribed penalties without a court hearing. However, the option can be offered only for offences specified in regulations under MCA 1980, s 16H(3)(a). Regulations specifying eligible offences have not yet been made, and the automatic online conviction and penalty procedure is therefore not yet operational. Exclusively summary-only, non-imprisonable offences committed by adults or organisations can be dealt with by a single justice. Where the single justice procedure applies, the single justice can

An annuity that will not pay out to a spouse, civil partner or dependant after the member's death.

The single market refers to the EU as one territory without any internal borders or other regulatory obstacles to the free movement of goods, services, persons and capital. The aim of the single market is to stimulate competition and trade, improve efficiency, raise quality, and help cut prices.

Tendering process whereby contractors tender for a project based on outline design and programme and the employer’s requirements/specification and then, based on the tenders received, the employer will select the contractor that it wishes to appoint and with whom it will enter into the building contract. Compare with ‘Two-stage tendering’.

An application supporting a single group of users only. Contrast with ‘multi-tenancy’ above.

State pension introduced with effect from 6 April 2016 which replaces the combined basic state pension and additional state pension system previously in place with a single amount. A person will usually need at least 10 qualifying years on their National Insurance record to get any new state pension, and will need 35 qualifying years on their National Insurance record to get the full new state pension. A person’s National Insurance record before 6 April 2016 is used to calculate their ‘starting amount’ under the new state pension system.

Parties 1 [insert full name of party], residing at [insert address] (together with their successors hereinafter together referred to as the Landlord); and 2 [insert full name of party], residing at [insert address] [and [insert full name of party], residing at [insert address]] but expressly excluding any subtenants or successors (other than permitted by law) hereinafter [together] referred to as the Tenant. The parties CONTRACT AND agree as follows: 1 Definitions Fixed Equipment • means all fences, roads, tracks, bridges, hedges, dykes and walls, gates, gate-posts, embankments, drains both underground and surface, ditches, artificial water courses, water pipes, tanks, and pumps, on the Land, so far as not redundant or (in the case of electrical and mechanical machinery) no longer operative at the commencement of this Lease; Interest • means [five] per cent above the base rate for the time being in force of [name of bank] (or any other UK clearing bank specified by the Landlord); Land • means ALL and WHOLE of the property known as [insert description] at [insert address or location] extending to approximately [insert number] [acres OR hectares] [being [all OR part] of the Land registered

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) announced the commencement of the single-use vape ban, effective from 1 June 2025. The ban makes it illegal to sell or supply disposable vapes, with first-time offenders facing £200 fines and product seizure, while repeat offenders risk unlimited fines or imprisonment. DEFRA reported pre-ban compliance effects, with single-use vape usage dropping from 30% to 24% among all vapers between 2024-2025. The measure complements the government's Tobacco and Vapes Bill, with Trading Standards officers designated as primary enforcement agents.

A person who acquires the right to land in some character other than by succession mortis causa, eg a buyer, donee inter vivos.

Family analysis: The final View from Sir Andrew McFarlane as the President of the Family Division highlights the nationwide rollout of the Child Focused Model, supported by £82 million in funding, as a transformative shift in private law children proceedings, introducing earlier child-focused evidence and more regular involvement of domestic abuse professionals, and moving from pilot to ‘business as usual’. Alongside this, the President reports improving system performance with reduced case durations despite rising volumes, emphasises the need for continued rigorous case management and pre-application discipline, and outlines changes to judicial resource allocation and new gatekeeping guidance to support efficient use of the judiciary. The View also refers to the revised domestic abuse injunction guidance, identifies the growing relevance of AI in family justice, highlights the contribution of support organisations assisting vulnerable court users, and concludes by marking the President’s forthcoming retirement within a context of ongoing reform and continuity.

In a speech on the new Business and Property Division (BPD), Sir Colin Birss said that amendments to forms had been prioritised, seals had been updated to reflect the King’s crown, and His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service organisational arrangements for the Rolls Building had been settled. He added that updated court guides were being prepared and CE-File changes would take effect on 5 October 2026.

The Master of the Rolls and Head of Civil Justice, Sir Geoffrey Vos, appeared before the House of Lords Constitution Committee to provide evidence for their rule of law inquiry. Sir Geoffrey Vos detailed plans to modernise civil justice in England and Wales. He outlined three key priorities: expanding digital platforms in County Court, replacing the CE-File system with AI-enabled case management and developing a pre-court digital justice system. Currently only 11% of County Court cases use digital systems. Sir Geoffrey Vos reported that Civil Automatic Referral to Mediation (CARM) has been implemented for claims under £10,000, with a 37-38% success rate since becoming mandatory.