Government bodies

Independent Review Service for the Social Fund

Website of the Independent Review Service (IRS) for the Social Fund in the United Kingdom. The role of the IRS is to provide an independent review of discretionary Social Fund decisions made in Jobcentre Plus offices. The site has information on the IRS's organisational structure and business objectives and guidance on applying to the Social Fund for a community care grant, crisis loan or budgeting loan. There is also advice on applying for a review of decisions made covering community care grants, crisis loans, budgeting loans and overpayment decisions.

Competition Commission of South Africa

The Competition Commission is a statutory body of the South African Government whose role is to "investigate, control and evaluate restrictive business practices, abuse of dominant positions and mergers in order to achieve equity and efficiency in the South African economy." The site gives background information to competition policy in South Africa and the work of the Commission. Procedural information is given on the different aspects of the Commission's work including mergers and acquisitions, prohibited practices, exemptions and advisory opinions.

UK Border Agency

The Border and Immigration Agency, ( formerly The Immigration and Nationality Directorate) is an executive agency of the Home Office. Its function is to control borders and manage immigration to the UK. Its website provides government press releases, legislation, statistical data and research reports.

Office of the Schools Adjudicator

The Office of the Schools Adjudicator (OSA) which was set up under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. Schools Adjudicators make decisions relating to school organisation issues and admission arrangements in cases that cannot be resolved locally. The website provides access to the decisions of the OSA. If these decisions have been subject to judicial review these proceedings are also included online. There are profiles of the Schools Adjudicators, guidance to the process and copies of the relevant legislation that is linked to on the site.

Valuation Tribunal Service

Website of the Valuation Tribunal Service (VTS). There are 56 Valuation Tribunals in England and 4 in Wales whose role is to hear appeals relating to Non-Domestic Rates and Council Tax. The website includes full text decisions and appeals listed for hearing back to October 1999. Decisions can be searched by appeal number, postcode or using a free text search option. Guidance documents give advice on making an appeal along with a selection of FAQs. Newsletters focusing on changes in the valuation law are aimed at staff within the tribunal service and can be viewed on the site.

First-tier Tribunal (Care Standards)

Website of the First-tier Tribunal (Care Standards) which was established under the Protection of Children Act 1999. This tribunal considers appeals relating to decisions regarding the suitability of individuals to work with children, the registration of care homes, children's homes and adoption and fostering agencies and the registration of childminders and day care providers. The site provides links to the regulations under which the Tribunal operates and to legislation under which appeals may be brought.

Primary Health Lists Tribunal

The Primary Health Lists Tribunal has superseded the former Family Health Services Appeal Authority. It hears appeals by general medical practitioners, dentists, chemists and opticians against decisions taken by Primary Care Trusts relating to their lists of "medical performers". Its pages on the HM Courts and Tribuanl Service website give an overview of its role and provide rules and legislation, details of forthcoming cases and a link to decisions back to 2004.

European Aviation Safety Agency

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is a regulatory agency of the European Union whose role is to maintain and improve aviation safety in Europe. The website explains the EASA's structure and functions and gives information about its activities in the fields of rulemaking, certification, maintenance, environmental protection, Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft (SAFA) and procurement. EASA documentation is available, including Opinions and Decisions. The site also has proceedings from Management Board meetings.

Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber)

The Tribunal's jurisdiction includes rating appeals, land compensation, taxation appeals concerning land and blight notice references. The website has information about the Tribunal, including a link to a database of decisions and a list of appeals from the Lands Chamber to the Court of Appeal. An online guide explains the role of the Tribunal along with a copy of the Lands Tribunal Rules 1996 and the Practice Directions. Statutory forms are presented in PDF format.

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