Written question asked by Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract (Labour), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Bach (Labour) on Monday, 20 July 2009.

British Coal Compensation

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will introduce legislation to protect litigants from any misconduct by solicitors in class actions, having regard to the practices adopted by claimants' solicitors in the British Coal respiratory disease litigation and British Coal vibration white finger litigation.

Answer: The Government have introduced legislation which allows for proactive measures to be taken to deal more quickly and effectively with cases of widespread wrongdoing in the future. The Legal Services Act 2007, which reforms the regulation of legal services in England and Wales, makes it absolutely clear that approved regulators of legal services are able to take proactive action—short of making orders for redress—where there are a potentially large number of clients who have been affected, but who may not know they have a complaint. These regulatory arrangements will be monitored by the newly established oversight regulator, the Legal Services Board. In addition, the newly established Office for Legal Complaints (OLC) will remove complaints handling from the legal professional bodies, with oversight from the newly established Legal Services Board. The OLC will administer an ombudsman scheme that will provide consumers with a quick, fair and accessible complaints system. This new body will be empowered to make a range of orders for redress, including up to £30,000 redress.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 4894; 712 c273-4WA
Session: 2008-09
Subjects: Complaints Consumers Misconduct Protection Regulation Solicitors Class actions
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk