§ 7. Mr. Donnellyasked the Attorney-General whether he will introduce legislation to ensure that if any member of the Bar is disciplined by the benchers of an Inn of Court, the grounds for such disciplinary action shall be made public.
§ The Attorney-General (Sir Lionel Heald)No, Sir.
§ Mr. DonnellyIs the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that since this matter was raised last week, another barrister has been suspended, for what reason we know not? Is he further aware that the benchers of Grays Inn only issued a statement in the case of Mr. John Parris after they had been shamed into it by this House? As Leader of the English Bar, does he consider a state of affairs should go on in which justice may or may not be done, but certainly is not manifestly appearing to be done?
§ The Attorney-GeneralIn answering as a Member of the Government and not as leader of the Bar, in so far as I am responsible for these matters I say quite definitely that I will not introduce legislation to the effect suggested in the Question. But I should add that general experience has been that it is better to leave to these professional tribunals discretion as to whether they publish details or not; because there are a number of cases where the publication of details may do very much more damage than the mere statement of the penalty, which, for certain reasons, may very well involve considerations of leniency or other special reasons.
Mr. Glenvil HallMay I ask the hon. and learned Gentleman whether, in view of the very widespread interest in cases of this kind, he would suggest to the benchers of the various Inns that where it is possible to do so such information should be published?
§ The Attorney-GeneralI should certainly be prepared to do that.