Clause
80
Function
of appellate
bodies
Question
proposed, That the clause stand part of the
Bill.
Simon
Hughes:
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.
Bridget
Prentice:
The hon. Gentleman is right; the bodies
concerned are the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and the Discipline
and Appeals Committee of the CLC. The Law Society cannot of its own
accord simply create an appeals body, nor can it modify on its own the
powers of another statutory body such as the
Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. That is why the
provision is in the Bill. If I may, I shall write to the Committee with
more detail on the structure of the appeals bodies, because further
discussions on what the structure will be are
ongoing.
Simon
Hughes:
I am grateful; that is very helpful.It
might be particularly helpful if the Minister lets colleagues have her
written comments on the matter in good time before we reach Report, for
reasons that she will
understand.
Question
put and agreed to.
Clause 80 ordered to stand
part of the
Bill.
Clauses 81
to 82 ordered to stand part of the
Bill.
The
Chairman:
I congratulate the Committee on its stamina. The
Committee will now adjourn until 9 o’clock on Thursday morning,
when I will be again in the
Chair.
Hon.
Members:
Hear,
hear!
Further
consideration adjourned.—[Mr. Michael
Foster.]
Adjourned
accordingly at twenty-six minutes past Nine o’clock till
Thursday 21 June at Nine
o’clock.
| 
