(609)  SNP GO FOR THE HOUSE OF LORDS AGAIN

Another new Bill missed by Scots Law News – many apologies to our readers.  On 29 September 2006 backbench SNP MSP Adam Ingram introduced a Civil Appeals (Scotland) Bill which would remove the civil appeal to the House of Lords (see http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/bills/77-civilappeals/index.htm).  It would be replaced with appeals to five judges in a Civil Appeals Committee appointed by the Lord President.  In the supporting material for the Bill, one of the grounds in support of removing the right of appeal is the decisions in Sharp v Thompson (sic), referred to at paras 8 and 9 of the policy memorandum, and Barker v Corus (see paras 11 -15; memorandum at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/bills/77-civilappeals/b77s2-introd-pm.pdf).  All this is back to old ground for the SNP – see previously No 55.