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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 am interested in what the noble Lord is saying. I hope that he accepts the premise that even when looking in the round, there are circumstances where the failure in one of the regulatory objectives is such that the Legal Services Board should act. I think that he does. If so, there is little between us, as the noble and learned Lord, Lord Lyell, said. I think that we have done that and Members of the Committee think that we have not, so I am happy to try and ensure that we have done what we set out to do. To return to what my noble friend Lord Whitty said, it is important that we do not water down by accident—which I know is not what the noble Lord, Lord Kingsland, is seeking—what is arguably the most important aspect of the Legal Services Board. If you fail to provide proper access to justice, that can, on its own, trigger action—if you fail to do something and that is quite clear even when it is looked at inthe round. We must not lose that. However, the Government’s position is that we want to ensure that we look in the round. We think that we have achieved that. If Committee Members feel that we have not, I am happy to look at it again. However, it will be in the context of thinking that we are already there, so I am not promising to do anything other than explain things more effectively.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
688 c985-6 
Session
2006-07
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Consumers Competition Legal profession Education Lord Chief Justice Standards Training Regulation Solicitors Legal Services Board
Legislation
Legal Services Bill (HL) 2006-07
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk