§ 80. Rear-Admiral Beamishasked the Attorney-General whether he has noted the observations of the learned judge at Manchester Assizes on 24th November when passing sentence of five years' penal servitude upon a solicitor on 13 separate counts for fraudulent conversion of clients' property; and whether he will introduce legislation to require that solicitors should submit their professional accounts annually to an auditor of the Board of Trade?
§ The Solicitor-General (Sir Terence O'Connor)As I stated on 11th October last, in reply to a question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Windsor (Sir A. Somerville), the Law Society are anxious to reintroduce at the earliest practicable moment a Bill on this subject embodying the recommendations of the Joint Select Committee which considered it last Session. Those recommendations, as my hon. Friend will be aware, included a recommendation for the examination of accounts.
§ Rear-Admiral BeamishIs my hon. and learned Friend aware that there is a very widespread feeling in the country that the public deserve to be better protected against this form of brigandage?
§ The Solicitor-GeneralI am aware that the situation is not satisfactory, and it is desirable to introduce legislation as soon as possible.
Lieut.-Colonel Sir A. Lambert WardIf a solicitor is capable of fraudulently converting his client's property would he not be capable of submitting incorrect accounts?
§ The Solicitor-GeneralThere are ways of examining accounts yearly to see whether they are fraudulent or not.
§ Mr. Glenvil HallAre the Government ready to give facilities for the Bill?
§ The Solicitor-GeneralI cannot answer that question. No doubt if a Bill were promoted in another place by the Law Society, discussion as to time here would take place through the usual channels.