My Lords, we are extremely grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Neill of Bladen, for tabling the amendment. If Part 5 is to succeed, three things will be needed: rigorous procedures to ensure that those who own law firms are fit and proper persons, a guarantee that the same consumer...

My Lords, we are extremely grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Neill of Bladen, for tabling the amendment. If Part 5 is to succeed, three things will be needed: rigorous procedures to ensure that those who own law firms are fit and proper persons, a guarantee that the same consumer...

moved Amendment No. 435: 435: Clause 169, page 88, line 20, at end insert— ““( ) The duty to comply with regulatory arrangements overrides any obligations which a person may have, including to shareholders (otherwise than under criminal law), if those obligations are inconsistent with the duty to comply with...

moved Amendment No. 435: 435: Clause 169, page 88, line 20, at end insert— ““( ) The duty to comply with regulatory arrangements overrides any obligations which a person may have, including to shareholders (otherwise than under criminal law), if those obligations are inconsistent with the duty to comply with...

My Lords, the Minister rightly recalled the long series of amendments that we tabled in Committee to Schedule 16. I am most grateful that in respect of almost every one of those amendments the noble Lord has been able to give a positive response. There are two outstanding matters that...

My Lords, the Minister rightly recalled the long series of amendments that we tabled in Committee to Schedule 16. I am most grateful that in respect of almost every one of those amendments the noble Lord has been able to give a positive response. There are two outstanding matters that...

My Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Baroness but does she not agree with me that there is an inconsistency in what she has just said to your Lordships' House? In my contention the override clause would provide clarity but in her opinion it would provide inconsistency. If...

My Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Baroness but does she not agree with me that there is an inconsistency in what she has just said to your Lordships' House? In my contention the override clause would provide clarity but in her opinion it would provide inconsistency. If...

My Lords, I shall not comment somewhat ironically on that intervention. I am most grateful. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 170 [The Law Society, solicitors, recognised bodies and foreign lawyers]:

My Lords, I shall not comment somewhat ironically on that intervention. I am most grateful. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 170 [The Law Society, solicitors, recognised bodies and foreign lawyers]:

My Lords, I entirely appreciate that the noble Baroness is acting on advice from the department, but with the greatest possible respect to her, would it not be a good idea for her to come back with a clear legal analysis of the concerns of the Department of Trade and...

My Lords, I entirely appreciate that the noble Baroness is acting on advice from the department, but with the greatest possible respect to her, would it not be a good idea for her to come back with a clear legal analysis of the concerns of the Department of Trade and...

My Lords, then I shall look forward not only to three but four courses. On Question, amendment agreed to. Schedule 16 [The Law Society, solicitors, recognised bodies and foreign lawyers]:

My Lords, then I shall look forward not only to three but four courses. On Question, amendment agreed to. Schedule 16 [The Law Society, solicitors, recognised bodies and foreign lawyers]:

My Lords, this amendment seeks to grant employees of organisations that manage local authority housing stock rights of audience and the right to conduct litigation in respect of anti-social behaviour proceedings in the county court. There is a concern that those rights are to be granted without such housing officers...

My Lords, this amendment seeks to grant employees of organisations that manage local authority housing stock rights of audience and the right to conduct litigation in respect of anti-social behaviour proceedings in the county court. There is a concern that those rights are to be granted without such housing officers...

My Lords, I am most grateful to the noble and learned Lord for his unexpected intervention this evening. I will respond in two ways. First, if that principle should apply to government lawyers, should it not apply to at least all lawyers in the Government’s service? It does not, after...

My Lords, I am most grateful to the noble and learned Lord for his unexpected intervention this evening. I will respond in two ways. First, if that principle should apply to government lawyers, should it not apply to at least all lawyers in the Government’s service? It does not, after...

My Lords, I am most grateful to the noble and learned Lord for his response. I would have preferred to have the amendment incorporated in the Bill. However, I have had his undertaking that its terms will be taken into account by those responsible for the management of the prescribed...

My Lords, I am most grateful to the noble and learned Lord for his response. I would have preferred to have the amendment incorporated in the Bill. However, I have had his undertaking that its terms will be taken into account by those responsible for the management of the prescribed...

My Lords, I have some knowledge of the procedures, but not sufficient to compete in every detail with the noble and learned Lord. I know of no circumstances in which a government lawyer has appealed to the Law Society for any support where there has been a conflict between themselves...

My Lords, I have some knowledge of the procedures, but not sufficient to compete in every detail with the noble and learned Lord. I know of no circumstances in which a government lawyer has appealed to the Law Society for any support where there has been a conflict between themselves...

moved Amendment No. 616A: 616A: Clause 185, page 100, line 15, at end insert— ““( ) Where an award of costs is made to a party under this section, the prescribed charity shall have regard to the wishes of the legal representative of that party with respect to the distribution...

moved Amendment No. 616A: 616A: Clause 185, page 100, line 15, at end insert— ““( ) Where an award of costs is made to a party under this section, the prescribed charity shall have regard to the wishes of the legal representative of that party with respect to the distribution...

My Lords, I support these amendments and I am most grateful to the Government. On Question, amendment agreed to.

My Lords, I support these amendments and I am most grateful to the Government. On Question, amendment agreed to.

My Lords, rather like a brief gleaming shaft of sunlight in an otherwise cloudy sky, I am delighted that the Government have tabled these amendments. They allow me not to press my own. This, I know the noble Baroness will agree, is an important matter. It is vital that an...

My Lords, rather like a brief gleaming shaft of sunlight in an otherwise cloudy sky, I am delighted that the Government have tabled these amendments. They allow me not to press my own. This, I know the noble Baroness will agree, is an important matter. It is vital that an...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for responding to some of our concerns. On Question, amendment agreed to. Clause 197 [Interpretation]:

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for responding to some of our concerns. On Question, amendment agreed to. Clause 197 [Interpretation]:

moved Amendment No. 621: 621: Before Clause 188, insert the following new Clause— ““Protected functions not transferable under Ministers of the Crown Act 1975 (1) The Ministers of the Crown Act 1975 (c. 26) is amended as follows. (2) In section 1 (Power by ordering Council to transfer functions of...

moved Amendment No. 621: 621: Before Clause 188, insert the following new Clause— ““Protected functions not transferable under Ministers of the Crown Act 1975 (1) The Ministers of the Crown Act 1975 (c. 26) is amended as follows. (2) In section 1 (Power by ordering Council to transfer functions of...

My Lords, in those circumstances, how could I possibly not withdraw my amendment? I thank the Minister very much. I am delighted to receive that excellent news. In those circumstances, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 189 [Local weights and measures authorities]:

My Lords, in those circumstances, how could I possibly not withdraw my amendment? I thank the Minister very much. I am delighted to receive that excellent news. In those circumstances, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 189 [Local weights and measures authorities]:

My Lords, it really pains me to stand up at the Opposition Dispatch Box and once again take issue with what the noble Baroness says, especially as she has spoken in such measured and conciliatory tones. Yet she must know by now, having had these exchanges not only at Second...

My Lords, it really pains me to stand up at the Opposition Dispatch Box and once again take issue with what the noble Baroness says, especially as she has spoken in such measured and conciliatory tones. Yet she must know by now, having had these exchanges not only at Second...

moved Amendments Nos. 392 and 393: 392: Clause 154, page 79, line 38, at end insert ““unless in relation to a complaint which is determined by an approved regulator pursuant to a direction made under section (Handling of complaints by approved regulator)”” 393: Clause 154, page 80, line 4, at...

moved Amendments Nos. 392 and 393: 392: Clause 154, page 79, line 38, at end insert ““unless in relation to a complaint which is determined by an approved regulator pursuant to a direction made under section (Handling of complaints by approved regulator)”” 393: Clause 154, page 80, line 4, at...

My Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Baroness for bringing forward these amendments to Clause 141 and for her explanation for doing so. We accept the superior drafting of the government Amendment No. 386 to our own Amendment No. 387 and are delighted to see that the obligation...

My Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Baroness for bringing forward these amendments to Clause 141 and for her explanation for doing so. We accept the superior drafting of the government Amendment No. 386 to our own Amendment No. 387 and are delighted to see that the obligation...