Clause 80
Legal Services Bill [Lords]
Public Bill Committees, 19 June 2007, 9:15 pm
Simon Hughes (Party President, Cross-Portfolio and Non-Portfolio Responsibilities; North Southwark & Bermondsey, Liberal Democrat)
This is the first of two clauses about appeals in the context of alternative business structures. It allows for the Lord Chancellor to establish by order bodies to hear and determine appeals from decisions, which is perfectly proper, reasonable procedure. I would be grateful if the Minister could tell the Committee what sort of bodies the Government envisage would be set up under the procedure. I appreciate that we will return to that point in secondary legislation.
In relation to modifying existing bodies, I recognise that clause 80(2) flags up two such bodies, namely the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and the Discipline and Appeals Committee established by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers. Will the Minister say what is intended by way of secondary legislation if we pass the clause? Will we have one appeals body or several? Will they involve lay people? Some colour and information would be helpful.