§ 42 and 44. Mr. PRICEasked (1) the Solicitor-General whether, in view of the difficulty in obtaining agreement between the Incorporated Law Society and the provincial law societies for the purpose of framing a Bill to protect the public against frauds on clients by solicitors, he will propose an amendment of the law so that in future the Incorporated. Law Society shall continue to grant to solicitors in the Metropolitan area their certificates to practise and that such certificates required by provincial solicitors shall be issued by the Lord Chancellor's Department, and in each case subject to the lodging of fidelity bonds of the kind required of their officers by certain public authorities and companies;
(2) the Attorney-General whether he will consider the desirability of amending the law so as to require all solicitors holding clients' money, documents, and instruments of value to lodge with the Board of Trade accounts and balance sheets vouched for by incorporated or chartered accountants on the lines required of public companies by the Companies Act of 1929?
§ 52. Sir J. FERGUSONasked the Attorney-General if, in view of the difficulty in reaching an agreement between the Incorporated Law Society and the provincial law societies, he will introduce a Bill drafted in terms acceptable to the Lord Chancellor and designed to protect the public from losses arising from fraudulent conversion by solicitors of property entrusted to them by clients?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir William Jowitt)As I stated on the 12th May in reply to a question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mr. Gill), I am confident that there is considerable public demand for a Bill designed to protect clients against frauds by solicitors. Proposals made by the Law Society directed to this end will be discussed at a meeting of the provincial law societies on the 20th June next, and until I know the result of this discussion I am not prepared to make any further statement as to the nature of the measures to be taken.