Orders of the Day — Legal Aid and Solicitors (Scotland) Bill

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 16 December 1948.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mr Michael Maitland Stewart Mr Michael Maitland Stewart , Fulham East 12:00, 16 December 1948

So I support this Measure. I think the Rushcliffe Committee was set up by the Coalition Government, and we all felt that something of this order was needed. I have not myself moved away from that general view, but I confess that I am a little disturbed by some of the speeches made from the Government Bench today. They seem to me to be based on an incorrect assessment of the present position and to assume developments here which I can only regard as highly dangerous.

Let me take first, my view that hon. Members opposite have an incorrect appreciation of what is done now. The hon. Member for North Edinburgh (Mr. Willis) gave us a very interesting speech; he spoke of the idea that at present it was only the novices among lawyers and advocates who were allotted the task of looking after the poor. The poor, he said, were guinea pigs for young and inexperienced men.