Clause 56
Legal Services Bill [Lords]
7:00 pm
John Mann (PPS (Rt Hon Richard Caborn, Minister of State), Department for Culture, Media & Sport; Bassetlaw, Labour)
I hear what the Minister says andfeel the level of incredulity from the Liberal Democrats—or Whigs, as they are known these days. I must have missed something. Some of my constituents have been waiting 18 months—and nearly two years in one case—for the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal to meet to consider their cases. Clearly, the regulator, if instructed to get on with that, would be unable to comply. There are some wider issues involved. Perhaps the Minister might write to the Committee about when the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal will meet and where the power then lies. That is precisely what my constituents and others who are waiting in the Rayleys case want to know. One of my constituents, Mrs Beckett, is sadly no longer with us and it is 18 months since I attended her funeral. She is one of those who did not see justice. Others, who are extremely unwell, are still waiting to have their say in court. Therefore, this is not a minor issue.