---

Legal Services Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 133B: 133B: Clause 134 , page 70, line 5, at end insert— ““( ) For the purposes of subsection (2)(d) and (e), in the event of a respondent’s failure to act on a determination within a reasonable period, the ombudsman may order, at the expense of the respondent, the necessary rectification to be secured or action to be taken by an alternative authorised person.”” The noble Lord said: The amendment is designed to probe the Government’s thoughts on situations where a lawyer does not satisfactorily rectify the error identified, which was the original source of a complaint. Inevitably, some complainants will find themselves in this position. This amendment would permit the OLC to direct that the work should be undertaken by another lawyer at the expense of the recalcitrant respondent who has failed to take the required action on behalf of a client. I beg to move.