The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 came into force on the 6th April 2008. However, the music and entertainment industry were granted a dispensation which provided it with extra time for implementaing the legislation. However, this runs out in a few days and from the 6th April 2008, all sectors of the entertainment industry (e.g. pubs and clubs) must comply. Essentially, compliance requires that a risk assessment be carried out where employees are exposed to noise levels of 80 decibels or more and measures taken to reduce noise exposure (i.e. hearing protection) where levels reach 85 decibels or more.

The Employment Act 2002 introduced fixed conciliation periods which limited the period ACAS had to conciliate to a defined limited period. However, the Government has now indicated that it will be abolishing fixed conciliation periods. Accordingly, from the beginning of April 2008, ACAS will now be looking to conciliate in all cases throughout the duration of each case.

Figures from the Bank of England show that the number of new mortgages being approved has fallen 39% in a year to its lowest level for 13 years. The Bank attributes the figures to a continuing slowdown in the housing market and the credit crunch.

In the recent Court of Appeal case of Richmond Adult Community College v McDougall (2008), the Court examined the question of when a disability condition, once symptoms have ceased, can be regarded as “likely to recur” to render it a condition classifiable as a disability for the purposes of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA 1995). Where symptoms have ceased, an employee is not regarded as disabled for the purposes of the DDA 1995. However, under the DDA 1995, the employee would be regarded as disabled if the symptoms are “likely to recur”. But when can a condition be regarded as “likely to recur”? In the Richmond case, the Court held that matters which take place subsequently to the alleged act of discrimination (i.e. such as a recurrence of symptoms) cannot be taken into account when assessing the position. The assessment must instead be based upon the state of knowledge at the time of the alleged act of discrimination and if the assessment was that the condition was unlikely to recur, then the employee cannot be regarded as disabled even if they later suffer a recurrence.

From the 1st January 2008, the level of compensation paid out for bereavement under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 increased by a pathetic £1,800 from £10,000 to £11,800. Moreover, this was the first increase since 2002. Is this really adequate compensation for the bereaved for all the misery and suffering associated with a life cut prematurely short?

The Bank of England kept interest rates on hold at 5.5% earlier this month. However, the odds are on a quarter point reduction to 5.25% in February. Indeed, with house prices falling and most of the important economic indicators pointing to a significant downturn in the economy, the Bank of England has been slow to react in reducing interest rates to a more appropriate level. Accordingly, the Bank may therefore be forced to make larger reductions later in the year to ward off recession.

In the case of Jackson v Computershare Investor Services (2007), the Court of Appeal recently held that The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (i.e. TUPE) does not bestow extra rights upon employees with the effect of enhancing their employment position. The Court stated that TUPE does no more than preserve existing employment rights.

Pharmaceutical giant Merck has settled litigation in the United States in relation to its arthritis treatment Vioxx for US$4.85 billion (£2.42 billion). Merck had removed Vioxx from the market on the 30th September 2004 after a study found that it doubled the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

The deal settles around 44,000 US claims. Had Merck not settled the litigation, it could have ultimately been facing an overall payout of US$30 billion.

The amount agreed of US$4.85 billion represents around 9-12 months profits for Merck. According to the company's chief executive, Richard Clark, the settlement allows the company to resolve the financial uncertainties that have been hanging over the company.

Nevertheless, the settlement does not apply to British lawsuits, only to US claimants. Approximately 400,000 people were prescribed Vioxx in the UK and about 300 claims have been launched by British families so far.

Whilst Nationwide Building Society found that house prices increased in October, they sounded a note of caution in their recent press release. They stated that whilst some "may be tempted to interpret October’s numbers as a sign that house prices are immune to deteriorating affordability and tightening credit conditions, such a conclusion would be misguided. Most leading indicators of housing market activity are continuing to weaken. Surveyors are reporting the weakest levels of new buyer inquiries in many years and mortgage approvals are falling from recent highs amid weaker demand and tighter lending criteria for riskier borrowers. Slowing demand, however, will not have an immediate impact on prices if homeowners are in no rush to sell. New instructions to sell have in fact been falling since May, when there had been a temporary surge of property onto the market. Different factors could be driving the low level of instructions, including a reluctance to trade up amid current uncertainties and the fact that low unemployment is limiting the number of forced sales. The overall result is that the stock of unsold homes is still relatively low, and this is providing some residual support to prices. The underlying dynamics of the market, however, are clearly not as strong as this time last year."

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) recently held in the case of Homeserve v Dixon (2007) that when employers write to employees inviting them to a disciplinary meeting as per the statutory disciplinary and dismissal procedures, there is no requirement for the employer to expressly state in the letter that they are contemplating dismissal. The EAT ruled that potential dismissal was implied in such letters by virtue of the fact that the employee is being formally invited to a disciplinary hearing.

House prices fell by 0.6% in September 2007 according to Halifax. The credit squeeze, the rise in interest rates, and the introduction of Home Information Packs are likely to be contributory factors behind the fall.

The Defence Secretary recently announced changes to the way personnel within the armed forces will be compensated when injured in the course of their service. Instead of just compensating them for the 3 most serious injuries arising out of a single incident as is presently the case, they will now be compensated for all injuries arising out of it. The changes moreover are to be backdated. Nevertheless, the cap of £285,000 on the level of compensation awarded remains and this has led to enormous injustices. With respect to the recent high profile case of Ben Parkinson, for example, who was blown up in Afganistan, despite being left paralysed, losing both his legs, and suffering a blast injury to his brain, he was awarded just £152,150 under the old rules which completely ignored 34 of his other injuries. However, following the rule changes, he will now receive the full £285,000. Nevertheless, the fact remains that if Ben Parkinson had received the same injuries in a UK civilian road traffic accident for which he was not at fault, he would have received far more more compensation. Moreover, the £285,000 in compensation he will now receive is in distinct contrast to the £484,000 of compensation an RAF typist is reported in the press to have received for a repetitive strain injury to their thumb.

Law Society President Kevin Martin has welcomed the Civil Justice Council's call not to increase the £1,000.00 small claims limit for personal injury cases. He said that "such a rise would mean many people..[would]..not be able to seek redress because the case is too complicated and costs are not recoverable." Mr Martin also added that the focus should instead be "on simplifying the system."