Space odyssey for lawyersWhen they heard we were doing a feature on space law (see page 20), the Legal Aid Practitioners Group was bizarrely keen to contribute on what might happen in the event of an alien invasion.

Many legal issues could arise (for example, how would one deport a truly illegal alien?), and chairman David Emmerson argued that it is time politicians took heed.

Mr Emmerson, with as straight a face as he could muster, told us: 'The LAPG is very concerned about the development of space law and the lack of provision made by the Legal Services Commission for advice in this area.

The problem is that there are just too many advice black holes out there, and the government has not yet worked out how Community Legal Service partnerships could be adapted to deal with the problem.' He then had to go and lie down in a darkened room, we understand.