Administrative law week 8 definitions

An organization or body that performs public functions, subject to legal obligations under the Human Rights Act (HRA).

The legal principle that a public administration body must comply with human rights provisions outlined in the Human Rights Act (HRA).

The decision of a UK court in the case of Heather, Ward, and Callin vs. Leonard Cheshire Foundation. The court found that a private foundation was not subject to the Human Rights Act (HRA) because it was not considered a public administration body.

A legal action or challenge pursued in court to protect someone's rights.

The criteria used by UK courts to determine if an organization is a public administration body under the HRA. These factors include the organization's structure, funding, and relationship with government.

The potential consequence of a narrow interpretation of public administration body under the HRA, where organizations might enjoy the benefits of public functions but not bear the obligations of human rights laws.

Criticism of the Heather ruling because of the court's limited view of public administration bodies, potentially denying residents legal protection under human rights laws.

The intent of the drafters of the HRA was a broad, not restrictive interpretation of public administration body, ensuring a wider application of human rights protection.

The idea that it's the function being performed, not the entity doing it, that determines if it's subject to human rights laws.

A court case where a private psychiatric hospital changed a patient's ward category. The court ruled the decision was in the public interest, thus subject to human rights laws.

A court case involving a utility company. The court determined that providing water is a public function, making the company subject to human rights laws.

Organizations that perform both public and private functions, making it tricky to decide if human rights laws apply.

The court case where a nursing home resident wanted to prevent a privately owned nursing home from being taken over by private sector control.

The court case where a resident in a private nursing home, placed there through an agreement with the city, disputed her removal.

The law that obliges local authorities to provide housing for elderly, sick, or disabled people.

The idea that even though an organization is private, if it performs a public function, it may be subject to human rights laws.

An agreement where a government transfers a service or function to a private company.

The idea that organizations, even private ones, performing public functions should be subject to human rights obligations.

The court's view that a service provider's relationship with the government should be judged based on its performance of public functions, not just administrative ties.

The legal review to which a service provided under a contract may be subject, based on the element of public function involved.

The principle that even a private company can be held accountable under the Human Rights Act if they perform public tasks.

The case of a contractual relationship being subject to judicial review because of the public nature of the function performed.

The concern that a narrow interpretation of public administration bodies under the HRA may leave individuals vulnerable to human rights violations.

In the UK, only decisions made by public bodies in pursuit of their public functions can be reviewed by courts.

A third party can challenge a public procurement decision if they are directly affected by it.

Before the Human Rights Act 1998, a body's source of competence (legislation or royal prerogative) determined its susceptibility to judicial control.

The Human Rights Act introduced a new legal framework for determining if an entity is subject to judicial control.

In the 1980s, privatization, self-regulation, and market pressures impacted government agencies.

The UK's experience with contracting out highlights the potential for negative impacts on third parties and the difficulty in enforcing public administration responsibility when services are outsourced.

The presence of a 'public element' in a contract can determine whether the service provider is subject to judicial scrutiny.

Determining what constitutes a 'public administration body' is crucial for protecting citizens' rights and ensuring effective judicial review.

The court ruled that a private nursing home was not a 'public body' and thus not subject to the Human Rights Act, despite receiving public funding and caring for elderly individuals placed by local authorities.

This ruling established that just because a private organization has a contract with a public body, it does not become subject to human rights laws automatically.

The court ruled that a private nursing home, despite receiving public funding and caring for elderly individuals placed by local authorities, was not performing a public function and therefore was not subject to human rights laws.

This act seeks to protect human rights and ensure their observance by public administrations and authorities.

An organization can be considered a public authority under the HRA even when providing services through a private contract, as long as the services contribute to a legally mandated public responsibility. This means that the organization's work is directly tied to a public task, even if it's done through a private arrangement.

The UK courts have been hesitant to broadly define public functions, often focusing on the specific entity rather than the essence of the task being performed. This can lead to potentially ambiguous legal interpretations and create uncertainty about the application of human rights protection.

When private entities are contracted to perform public functions, like caring for asylum seekers, the courts look at the specific agreement between the government and the private entity. If the agreement is purely private, even though the function is public, the private entity may not be subject to HRA obligations.

There is no single, universally applicable test to determine if an organization is performing a public function. Each case is judged individually, leading to potential inconsistencies in the application of human rights protection.

The Home Secretary has a legal responsibility to provide accommodations for asylum seekers. While this is a public function, contracting a private company like Serco to provide these services doesn't automatically make Serco subject to the HRA. The court might look at the specifics of the contract to see if it's purely private.

The UK's Human Rights Act (HRA) aims to protect individuals from rights violations. An organization performing a public function, even if it's privately contracted, could be subject to HRA obligations. However, the courts have taken a narrow approach, leading to uncertainty about the reach of human rights protection in these situations.