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Legal Services Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 8: 8: Schedule 1, page 112, leave out line 7 The noble Lord said: My Lords, the amendment would omit sub-paragraph (1)(b) and thus, "““the Chief Executive of the Board””." We hear a great deal about good corporate governance, and in governance terms it is surely unacceptable that the chief executive of the Legal Services Board should be a member. The LSB should, of course, be independent and free to act in the context of its statutory duties, and ensuring that the chief executive officer is not a member contributes to that objective. The amendment would not prevent the chief executive providing advice and guidance to the Legal Services Board, but would reinforce his or her independence and his or her position as the accounting officer for the board. I am very grateful to the Law Society of Scotland for having brought this to my attention, and I have much pleasure in moving the amendment. I beg to move.