Clause 8
Legal Services Bill [Lords]
9:15 am
Bridget Prentice (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Ministry of Justice; Lewisham East, Labour)
Trade unions will have an equal opportunity to present people to be members of the consumer panel, but they cannot put authorised persons on the panel. Providers of reserved legal services cannot be part of the body that is specifically set up to consider the needs of legal services consumers. Creating a body that voices consumer interests is important for those on the high street who have not had their concerns or opinions adequately heard in the past. I find this group of amendments wholly unpalatable.
On amendment No. 219, there is nothing to prevent “non-practising solicitors” sitting on the panel, as long as they are not authorised persons. “Non-practising solicitors” fall outside the definition of an authorised person, and therefore outside the prohibition inclause 8.
Talk of the principle of the independence of the legal profession has been heard loud and clear, not only in the Committee, but during six months of debate in the other place. We have heard the concerns about the principle very clearly indeed, but it must apply equally to the role of the consumer panel. If we in this House are the first to make that argument, so be it. The consumer panel must be independent of the influence of the legal profession. On that basis, I shall not accept the amendments.