Centre for Policy Studies published a Pointmaker Report Housing
On 1 February 2017 the Centre for Policy Studies published a Pointmaker Report Housing: Now is the Time to Seize the Opportunity - the fourth in a series of Pink Planning reports co-authored by me and the economist Keith Boyfield; the report was discussed in the Daily Mail on 1 February 2017, the Mail Online on 2 February 2017 and CityAM on 2 February 2017; Thomson Reuters Foundation Place online magazine ran a report about it on 2 February 2017, and the Foundation also discussed the Report on 1 February 2017 here.
Exiting the European Union Bill
On 31 January 2017 Thomson Reuters published a note by me on the form of the Exiting the European Union Bill.
House of Lords Research Paper Publishing Statistics
House of Lords Research Paper Publishing Statistics on the Time Spent on Parliamentary Proceedings on Each Part of an Act, prepared for Lord Butler's Question for Short Debate on 18 January 2017, discusses my earlier suggestion published by the Centre for Policy Studies on which the Question was based; the debate can be read in Hansard.
Article by an Australian online business journal Business Insider
My views on the likely timing and process for the Brexit legislation are reported in a 13 January 2017 article by an Australian online business journal Business Insider, drawing on and expanding earlier views of mine reported in a House of Commons Library briefing.
House of Commons Library Briefing Paper Number 7863
House of Commons Library Briefing Paper Number 7863 Legislating for Brexit: directly applicable EU law published on 12 January 2017 quotes my earlier published views of the scale of the Brexit project in legislative terms.
Finance Committee of the National Assembly for Wales
On 11 January 2017 the Finance Committee of the National Assembly for Wales held an informal session with me on the Landfill Disposals Tax (Wales) Bill.
Risks of legal research
On 6 January 2017 Thomson Reuters published on YouTube a short explanation by me off the risks of legal research today.
Compassionate Use Access to Investigational Medicines
On 1 December 2016 I spoke about the legal and legislative perspective on the regulation of Compassionate Use Access to Investigational Medicines at a conference organised by the Oxford Academic Health Science Centre.
House of Lords Select Committee on the Constitution
On 23 November 2016 I gave oral evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on the Constitution in its inquiry into the legislative process; you can read the transcript of my evidence session here.
Solomon Islands
In November 2016 I travelled to the Solomon Islands to begin a project designed to enhance public financial management legislation in the Islands.
Symposium in Melbourne organised by the La Trobe University Law School’s Centre for Legislation
On 17 and 18 November 2016 I attended a symposium in Melbourne organised by the La Trobe University Law School's Centre for Legislation, Its Interpretation and Drafting. The symposium was attended by judges, academics and practitioner. I participated as Commentator at a session that heard papers by two legislative drafters on issues including the desirablity of consistency (which I have often argued is an impossible and undesirable aim).
Thomson Reuters published on YouTube a Q & A Session
On 24 October 2016 Thomson Reuters published on YouTube a Q & A Session with me on influencing legislation.
Statute Law Review carries my Editorial entitled The Broader the Power
The October issue of the Statute Law Review carries my Editorial entitled The Broader the Power, the Narrower the Power, drawing attention to the Supreme Court's decision in Public Law Project v Lord Chancellor to the effect that unreasonably broadly drafted powers will be read down by the courts.
Thomson Reuters published a Q&A interview with me about Influencing Legislative Change
Thomson Reuters published a Q&A interview with me about Influencing Legislative Change in October 2016: it is available on YouTube.
Society of Legal Scholars’ Annual Conference in St Catherine’s College, Oxford
On 7 September 2016 I spoke at the Society of Legal Scholars' Annual Conference in St Catherine's College, Oxford - the session was entitled Modern Statutory Interpretation, chaired by Lady Justice Arden, with Lord Justice Sales and Professor John Bell. My contribution was an argument that judges have started to look at parliamentary and other materials that are misleading without understanding the political and practical realities - see https://twitter.com/macsithigh/status/773471989457645568.
Sri Lanka
In September 2016 I visited Sri Lanka to participate in a project considering the revision of the country's constitution.
Counsel for Domestic Legislation in the House of Commons
On 2 August 2016 I was appointed Counsel for Domestic Legislation in the House of Commons. As a result I am now winding up my City practice. I will continue with a number of my writing and teaching editorial and academic activities.
Accessibility of the Law Applicable in Wales
The Law Commission's Report Form and Accessibility of the Law Applicable in Wales (Law Com No 366 29 June 2016 HC 469–I) quotes my response to their consultation paper in a number of places (but despite my pleas continues to recommend the introduction of a new kind of codification Bill that I fear is likely to contribute to the already intolerable complexity of the statute book).
Human Rights and Reductio ad Hitlerem
Policy Exchange's Judicial Power Project published a blog piece by me on 3 June 2016 about the importance of balance in the debate over the future of the Human Rights Act - Human Rights and Reductio ad Hitlerem.
Nigel Williams of Breakfast on BBC Surrey interviewed me
Nigel Williams of Breakfast on BBC Surrey interviewed me on 2 June 2016 as part of a news item about erosion of the Green Belt; I explained how my Centre for Policy Studies Pink Planning report could ease pressure on desirable locations by enabling the establishment of new viable communities in other places.
Centre for Policy Studies
On 21 May 2016 the Centre for Policy Studies released the third Report in the Pink Planning series of which I am the co-author.
The House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny
The House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee's 32nd Report of Session 2015-16 (Response to the Strathclyde Review: Effective parliamentary scrutiny of secondary legislation - HL Paper 128 - 14 April 2016) quotes my evidence (para.85) on the difference between the balance of the two Houses and the balance of Parliament and the Executive.
Centre for Policy Studies published my Pointmaker Report Dangerous Trends in Modern Legislation
On Friday 8 April 2016 the Centre for Policy Studies published my Pointmaker Report Dangerous Trends in Modern Legislation
Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly (Volume 67 Number 1)
The Spring 2016 issue of the Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly (Volume 67 Number 1) publishes at pages 1 - 66 the Stormont House Agreement Model Implementation Bill produced by a group in which I served as Parliamentary draftsman.
The House of Lords Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform
The House of Lords Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Commite's 25th Report of Session 2015-16 (Special Report: Response to the Strathclyde Review - HL Paper 119 - 23 March 2016) quotes my evidence to the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee (para.72) on the difference between the balance of the two Houses and the balance of Parliament and the Executive.