Clause 11
Legal Services Bill [Lords]
10:00 am
Jonathan Djanogly (Shadow Solicitor General (Also Shadow Minister for Trade and Industry), Law Officers (Assist the Home Affairs Team); Huntingdon, Conservative)
We propose to insert the words “onits own initiative” on a probing basis. The proposal comes from current consumer bodies. The wording of clause 11 will permit the consumer panel to carry out research for the Legal Services Board and provide it with advice when it so requests. The amendment would enable the consumer panel also to carry out research and give advice to the board on its own initiative.
The amendment aims to ensure that the consumer panel has an active and real purpose. It suggests that the panel should be given some independence and the opportunity to investigate matters and pass on relevant findings and associated advice without having to wait to be asked by the Legal Services Board. That would enable the system to become far more dynamic and less static.
We are, of course, aware that such increased freedom on the part of the consumer panel will lead to further costs. As we have indicated in earlier amendments, the Conservatives are keen to ensure that such additional costs are not passed on to the regulators. It would be unjust to make them pay for research carried out by the consumer panel on its own initiative on consumers’ behalf. Therefore, we suggest that an additional amendment be made—amendment No. 223, which is self-explanatory.