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Legal Services Bill [HL]

I am always happy to rise to my feet, but I did not want to interrupt the noble Lord. I do not see anything in the Bill being at odds with what Sir David Clementi said. As I understand it, he said that we need to have certain safeguards for all types of alternative business structures. Those are built into the approach we have taken. We think that it is better to have the consistency of regulation; it is just a different point of view. I was nodding as I was thinking of our desire to approach noble Lords’ concerns about alternative business structures with an open mind on how they develop and with a recognition that we shall take time to get this right, which is important. The noble Lord, Lord Kingsland, has some interesting ideas on other things that we might consider in that regard when we discuss later amendments. I was nodding at all that, but I believe that the way we have set out the measure is better and reflects a consistent approach. I say that with no disrespect to the Law Society.