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Legal Services Bill [HL]

I am not surprised that the British and Irish Ombudsman Association supports what the Minister is putting forward because, in essence, that is the end of it. The decision of the ombudsman, which may be against the consumer, is the final say. There may be some internal review process and I do not think that the Minister entirely shut out judicial review. But the strength of the present system is the position of the independence of the Legal Services Commissioner and the Legal Services Ombudsman. As the Minister knows, many complaints have gone to the ombudsman which have been successfully resolved. If the Office for Legal Complaints fails or is not a success there is no redress. I have not seen the whole of the noble Baroness's reply to the earlier amendment. I should not make any further comment until I have read what she said then and considered what she has said now. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendments Nos. 139B and 139C not moved.] [Amendment No. 139D had been withdrawn from the Marshalled List.] Clause 155 agreed to. [Amendment No. 139E not moved.] Clauses 156 and 157 agreed to. [Amendment No. 139F not moved.]