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Proceeding contribution from Baroness Ashton of Upholland (Labour) in the House of Lords on Monday, 22 January 2007. It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL) and Debate on bill on Legal Services Bill [HL].


Legal Services Bill [HL]

I was going to say little more than that, if that is all right. It is desirable. We expect equal opportunities, probity, openness, transparency and proportionality—all those key words within the appointment guidance—to apply to these circumstances. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that the board could say in advance how it proposes to appoint, which may deal with the noble Lord’s point about being open and clear. If the noble Lord will indulge me, I will say one more thing about selection. We have made onekey distinction between the appointments for this Consumer Panel and other such panels—those under the Financial Services and Markets Act and the Agriculture Act, Ofcom and so forth. All of those are appointed with the approval of the Secretary of State—or the Treasury, in the case of the Financial Services and Markets Act—but in this case the board will appoint. It is worth making that distinction because it may be welcomed. There is nothing between us. I am quite happy to think about whether the board should say in advance how it proposes to deal with appointments. As I said, it is desirable to have public advertisements, but not to specify that in the Bill.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
688 c927 
Session
2006-07
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Consumers Appeals Competition Legal profession Fees and charges Education Law Society Public appointments Patents Standards Training Regulation Solicitors Trade marks Wills Legal Services Board Legal Services Consumer Panel
Legislation
Legal Services Bill (HL) 2006-07
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk