Clause 37
Legal Services Bill [Lords]
5:30 pm
Henry Bellingham (Shadow Minister, Constitutional Affairs; North West Norfolk, Conservative)
My name and those of my colleagues have, indeed, been added to the amendment. It is a simple and straightforward, but nevertheless important, safeguard to ensure that the LSB does not impose financial penalties where lesser sanctions would suffice. The hon. Member for North Southwark and Bermondsey made a very powerful case. It is designed to prevent capricious, over-the-top fining. It is to ensure that the fining option is the last option available. I take on point his point: there will be quite a lot of pressure on the Legal Services Board to make examples and to flex its muscles. If it is to do that, an extra constraint needs to be built in. That is why we support the amendment and I hope that the Minister will accept it.