Clause 55
Legal Services Bill [Lords]
6:45 pm
Bridget Prentice (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Ministry of Justice; Lewisham East, Labour)
I understand what the hon. Member for North-West Norfolk is trying to achieve with the amendment. My initial reaction is that it is unnecessary because the board already has a duty to have regard to best regulatory practice, including transparency. Any notice that properly follows best regulatory practice would have a reason and an explanation attached to it.
I remind the hon. Gentleman that public law principles require reasons to be given in any event, so I am not hugely convinced that the amendment is necessary. However, I am happy to consider it further on the basis that the principles of transparency are important. Perhaps we can discuss it later to see whether I can convince him that the clause covers all bases, or whether it needs to be amended to make it even clearer.