The Law Reform Committee was a committee in England and Wales appointed by the Lord ChancellorThe Solicitors Journal. Volume 96. Page 418. Published in No 26 dated 28 June 1952. "to consider, having regard especially to judicial decisions, what changes are desirable in such legal doctrines as the Lord Chancellor may from time to time refer to Committee".Law Reform Committee. Third Report (Occupiers' Liability to Invitees, Licensees and Trespassers). Cmd 9305. HMSO. London. November 1954. Page 5.
The Lord Chancellor's decision to create this committee was announced on 2 May 1952 by the Attorney General, Lionel Heald, at the dinner of the West Surrey Law Society. The Solicitors Journal said that the proposed step was "overdue".The Solicitors Journal. Volume 96. Page 285. Published in No 19 dated 10 May 1952. The Committee was appointed on 16 June 1952.Law Reform Committee. Third Report (Occupiers' Liability to Invitees, Licensees and Trespassers). Cmd 9305. HMSO. London. November 1954. Page 5. In 2006, John Wheeler said that the Committee was "defunct".John Wheeler. Essentials of the English Legal System. Pearson Education. 31 December 2006. Page 349 from Google Books.
Composition Six members of the Committee were judges, two were Queen's Counsel, two were solicitors and the remaining three were professors of law. Reports +Law Reform Committee reports Report Subject Command paper Date Implementing act1stStatute of Frauds and Section 4 of the Sale of Goods Act 1893Cmd. 88091953Law Reform (Enforcement of Contracts) Act 19542ndInnkeepers' liability for property of travellers, guests and residentsCmd. 916May 1954Hotel Proprietors Act 1956 3rd Occupiers' liability to invitees, licensees and trespassers Cmd. 9305 November 1954 Occupiers' Liability Act 1957Andrew Tettenborn. Clerk & Lindsell on Torts. Sixteenth Edition. Sweet & Maxwell. London. 1989. Paragraph 13-02 at page 708.4thRule against perpetuitiesCmnd. 181956Perpetuities and Accumulations Act 19645thConditions and exceptions in insurance policiesCmnd. 6219576thCourts' power to sanction variations of trustsCmnd. 31019577thEffect of tax liability on damagesCmnd. 501August 19588thFormalities of contracts by non-trading corporationsCmnd. 6221958 9th Liability in tort between husband and wife Cmnd. 1268 January 1961 10thInnocent misrepresentationCmnd. 17821962Misrepresentation Act 1967 11th Loss of services Cmnd. 2017 1963 Section 2 of the Administration of Justice Act 1982F v Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council and Another Fam 69, 2 WLR 1132 12th Transfer of title to chattels Cmnd. 2958 April 1966 Not implemented by 2006 13th Hearsay evidence in civil proceedings Cmnd. 2964 May 1966 14th Acquisition of easements and profits by prescription Cmnd. 3100 October 1966 15th The Rule in Hollington v. Hewthorn Cmnd. 3391 September 1967 16th Privilege in civil proceedings Cmnd. 3472 December 1967 17th Evidence of opinion and expert evidence Cmnd. 4489 October 1970 18th Conversion and detinue Cmnd. 4774 September 1971 Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 (partial and modified effect).Burrows 1989, Paragraphs 22-08 and 22-09 at page 1224 19th Interpretation of wills Cmnd. 5301 May 1973 sections 20 and 21 of the Administration of Justice Act 1982Megarry et al. 2008, Note 312 and 316 to paragraph 14-064 at page 580 and note 326 to paragraph 14-067 at page 581. 20th Interim report on limitation of actions: In personal injury claims Cmnd. 5630 May 1974 21st Final report on limitation of actions Cmnd. 6923 September 1977 Limitation Amendment Act 1980.Megarry et al. 2008, Note 31 to paragraph 35-003 at page 1412. 22nd The making and revocation of wills Cmnd. 7902 May 1980 section 17 of the Administration of Justice Act 1982Megarry et al. 2008, Note 72 to paragraph 14-015 at page 559. 23rd The powers and duties of trustees Cmnd. 8733 October 1982 24th Latent damage Cmnd. 9390 November 1984 Latent Damage Act 1986Burrows 1989; Note 49 to paragraph 9-55 at page 418.
See also Law commission Law Commissions Act 1965
References Sources Blair, Michael C. "The Law Reform Committee: The First Thirty Years" (1982) 1 Civil Justice Quarterly 64 Andrew S Burrows. Clerk & Lindsell on Torts. Sixteenth Edition. Sweet & Maxwell. London. 1989. Sir Robert Megarry and Sir William Wade and Charles Harpum and Stuart Bridge and Martin Dixon. The Law of Real Property. Seventh Edition. Sweet & Maxwell. London. 2008.
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