Scottish Law Commission annual report details busy year

The Scottish Law Commission’s has published its annual report outlining progress on the commission’s law reform work during 2017.

The chairman of the Scottish Law Commission, Lord Pentland, said: “2017 was another successful and productive year for the commission.

“We published reports and draft bills on three important branches of Scots private law: moveable transactions, defamation and prescription.

“All are key areas of the law affecting many people and organisations across Scotland at a practical level.

“The work of law reform is of vital importance in ensuring that the law is kept in tune with modern values and with the thinking and outlook of today’s rapidly evolving society.”

The chairman welcomed the passing of legislation in the Scottish Parliament in 2017 giving effect to the commission’s recommendations on third party rights in contract.

The report also highlights the commitment of the Scottish government to a bill (introduced this month) to implement the commission’s recommendations in relation to the law of prescription as part of its legislative programme for 2017-18.

At the UK Parliament, legislation was passed on unjustified threats in intellectual property, a project on which the Scottish Law Commission assisted the Law Commission for England and Wales.