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Legal Services Bill [Lords]

I start by declaring an interest: I am not a lawyer, but I am a Labour and Co-operative Member of Parliament. Given that some parts of the Bill have been described as ““Co-op law”” or ““Tesco law””, I think it only right to bring my association with and support for the co-operative movement to the notice of the House. I welcome the Bill, but I would like to comment on the process hitherto. Hon. Members on both sides of the House agree that the consultation process has been very thorough, and I think that part of the reason for that agreement across the House is that the majority of participants in the debate have a legal connection. The ad hoc Committee comprised—not entirely, but largely—people with legal backgrounds. Not all but most of those who contributed to the debate in the other place have legal backgrounds, and so far a high proportion of those who have contributed to today’s debate have legal backgrounds, or have operated with non-legal qualifications.