§ Lords Amendment: No. 120, in page 52, line 7, after "rules" insert "(i)".
§ Mr. TaverneI beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.
With this Amendment we can take Amendments Nos. 121 and 122.
The Clause enables the Lord Chancellor to make rules setting up tribunals to hear complaints against solicitors and counsel relating to legal aid. The Amendments enable such rules to provide for additional penalties which the tribunal may impose upon solicitors and counsel. The penalties are to reduce or cancel remuneration otherwise payable in legal aid briefs or, secondly, to order barristers or solicitors to pay the costs of the hearing before the tribunal. No doubt this will be a considerable deterrent against improper conduct. The Amendments bring the power of this Tribunal into line with those of the similar tribunal arising out of the civil legal aid scheme.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Subsequent Lords Amendments agreed to.