Clause 101 - Official solicitor of Northern Ireland
Courts Bill [Lords]
4:00 pm
Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath, Conservative)
I beg to move amendment No. 25, in
clause 101, page 55, line 25, after 'Court', insert 'or a barrister'.
This amendment is a small point. I declare an interest as a member of the Bar of England and Wales, although I am not currently in practice. There seemed no reason why a barrister in Northern Ireland should not be considered as a possible appointee as an Official Solicitor. I am not a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland, and I have never practised there, but I know that in the courts of England and Wales there is no restriction. The Minister will correct me if I wrong, but I think that those qualified at the Bar, rather than as solicitors, have been appointed as Official Solicitors in the past. I want to probe the Government on that small point.