Legal Updates

With effect from 6 April new fee increases for immigration applications will be introduced. The majority of the fees will be increased by 3% however the fees for dependants will rise steeply as the current discount will be reduced from 50% to 25% of the main applicant fee. A document showing the new fees can be found on the UKBA website (click on the link under 'Related Documents' in the top right hand corner).

Decision of Conduct and Competence Committee Panel of HCP (now HCPC) found to be sound, despite ‘unhelpful’ guidance on when good character evidence can be considered.

The High Court upholds findings of Conduct and Competence Committee Panel of the HCP (now HCPC), holding that even where decisions are made almost entirely on the basis of documentary rather than live evidence, the courts will still be slow to set aside the specialist judgement of a FTP panel.

On 25 March, the GMC published their updated version of ‘Good medical practice’, the core ethical guidance they provide to doctors.  This follows a consultation in which more than 2000 doctors and 40,000 patients provided feedback.  The guidance comes into effect on 22 April 2013.