In an uncharacteristically populist move, the Law Commission has tried to get down with the national vibe in an effort to make itself look more relevant.

It has been given access to nearly 10,000 e-mails received by Radio Four's 'Today' programme in response to their competition for listeners to suggest new laws ('Today' may not exactly be an accurate national barometer, but the Law Commission does have standards).

There was a genuine purpose to the exercise - which was to inform its future programme of work - but the commission has solemnly assured us that it will not be taking forward the call for a law to ban men or impose compulsory celibacy on a generation.

Nor will it look to rename Golden Delicious apples on the grounds they are neither of those things, nor allow polygamy.

But the most humbling e-mail came from the listener who recommended that there should be a Law Commission to improve the law.

An analysis of the responses noted: 'Perhaps we ought to do more to tell people we exist.'