In Brief

NEW YJB HEAD

Frances Done has replaced Rod Morgan, who resigned last January, as chairman of the Youth Justice Board. From 2003 until October 2006, Done was a managing director at the Audit Commission with responsibility for the commission’s audit and inspection work in relation to local government and the Fire Service in England. Done is responsible for meeting the Youth Justice Board’s target to reduce re-offending and for developing the government’s plans to create a modern youth justice system.

MINER COMPLAINTS

Former miners who had improper deductions made by solicitors from their compensation payments are being urged to make a complaint within 12 months by the government and the Legal Complaints Service (LCS). The Coal Health Compensation Schemes were negotiated to compensate miners for mining-related health problems, caused by working in British coal mines. However, some solicitors made deductions of success fees from miners’ compensation awards, in addition to costs they would receive from the government, to compensate for not being paid in unsuccessful cases. The LCS is writing to ex-miners to encourage them to make a complaint within the time limit. Ex-miners will be advised to seek to recover their money through in-house complaints mechanisms under rule 2 of the Solicitors’ Code of Practice. Should this prove unsuccessful, they should contact the LCS.

WELSH IN COURT

Magistrates in Wales have issued a protocol calling on court users to use the Welsh language wherever possible. The protocol intends to make users aware of their right to use Welsh in court and has been formulated by a working group which spent a year collating information for best practice guidance. Judge Eleri Rees, liaison judge for the Welsh language says: “The protocol is intended to reflect the principle of equality for both the Welsh and English languages in court.”