The Supreme Court

To most readers of Washminster the term "Supreme Court" will immediately bring to mind the magnificant white building opposite the Congress Building in Washington DC. Soon there will be a rival. This autumn the highest court in the English Legal System will cease to be the "Judicial Committee of the House of Lords" - and instead the new Supreme Court will meet across Parliament Square, in what used to be known as Middlesex Guildhall.

In a press release from the Ministry of Justice it was stated that

"The creation of a world class building for a world class institution will underscore the independence of the judiciary from Government, while emphasising the focus on justice, truth and democracy...

The renovation will restore the building to its original grandeur, as additions from the 1980's are being peeled back and removed to reveal original features, such as ornate ceilings. The historic integrity of this important building is being preserved while a modern functional and publicly accessible court space is created."

Middlesex Guildhall was built in the early years of the 20th Century in the art nouveau gothic style. It is decorated with mediæval-looking gargoyles. It incorporates in the rear a doorway dating from the seventeenth century, which was part a prison which used to stand on the site. It served originally as a County Council headquarters - but in recent years was a Crown Court.

In the House of Lords today Earl Ferrers will ask Her Majesty’s Government what is to be the postal address of the new Supreme Court. An easy enough question to answer - but of course the real interest will be in his supplementary.

Budget Day

This afternoon Alistair Darling will present his budget. It will be a day of great excitement and tradition at Westminster. The purpose of his statement is to report to Parliament on the current and future state of the economy; and to announce changes in taxation measures.




A fourteen minute recording is available on the parliamentary website about the history and traditions of the Budget - http://www.parliament.uk/about/podcasts/budget.cfm. A factsheet is available at http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/p05.pdf.

The Hansard Society have done a lot of work on the current process - and proposals for reform. Their book, 'The Fiscal Maze' is downloadable at http://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/blogs/downloads/archive/2007/09/17/the-fiscal-maze-jul-2006.aspx

Budget resolutions are passed to give effect to any tax changes announced - and these are then permanent effect after the Finance Bill is passed.

The Treasury maintains a Budget website at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/bud_bud09_index.htm

Civility

It hasn't been a good time recently for civility between legislators - but then was there ever a golden age? Physical fights have broken out in the past on the floors of the chambers.

Senator Mark Pryor discusses how to improve civility in the senate

The Return

Parliament and Congress return - as does Washminster! The next few weeks will be a hard working period for both legislatures - and this blog will cover both the subject matters under discussion - and the procedures which will be followed.

In the UK the main event this week will be the Budget statement in the House of Commons, and the debate which follows it. This afternoon the Commons has a debate on defence procurement. The Lords continue the marathon committee stage of the Marine and Coastal Access Bill tomorrow. Today they consider the controversial Postal Services Bill.

The House of Representatives return on Tuesday. There are a number of bills to be considered under the suspension procedure - including a joint concurrent resolution "Providing for the acceptance of a statue of Ronald Wilson Reagan from the people of California for placement in the United States Capitol " and H.R. 1694 - Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefield Protection Act. In the Senate on Monday they are due to consider a "motion to proceed to S. 386, a bill to improve enforcement of mortgage fraud, securities fraud, financial institution fraud, and other frauds related to federal assistance and relief programs, for the recovery of funds lost to these frauds, and for other purposes"

The details of this week's business can be found at

Westminster - http://services.parliament.uk/calendar/.

House of Representatives - http://democraticleader.house.gov/links_and_resources/whip_resources/weeklyleader.cfm?pressReleaseID=2952

Recess

Both Congress and Parliament are on recess. Washminster will next be published on April 20th.