LAW SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND (Hansard, 20 November 1974)

§ 42. Mr. Lambie
asked the Lord Advocate when he next intends to meet the Law Society of Scotland.

§ The Lord Advocate
I have accepted an invitation from the President and Council of the Law Society of Scotland to a lunch on 5th December.

§ Mr. Lambie
When my right hon. and learned Friend meets representatives of the Law Society, will he remind them of the ever-growing body of opinion in Scotland which looks upon the Law Society as a protection racket for inefficient lawyers—as a sort of Mafia? Now that my right hon. and learned Friend has read the full facts of the case of a constituent of mine which I forwarded to him, does he agree that it shows gross inefficiency, which justifies the demand for a public inquiry into the affairs of the Law Society?

§ The Lord Advocate
My hon. Friend has used extravagant language. It does not serve any useful purpose to deal with specific cases in question and answer in this Chamber, especially in view of the fact that the Law Society of Scotland is not a body for which I am ministerially responsible.

§ 40. Mr. Sproat
asked the Lord Advocate what plans he has to meet representatives of the Law Society of Scotland.

§ The Lord Advocate
As I said in answer to the hon. Member on 31st July, I have an arrangement whereby I meet the President of the Law Society of Scotland every month. In addition, I meet him on other occasions when he asks for a special meeting.

§ Mr. Sproat
In view of the increasing percentage of the total crimes committed in Scotland which are committed by juveniles, when next the Lord Advocate meets representatives of the Law Society will he ask for their considered views on the effectiveness of the system of children's panels as opposed to other means of dealing with juvenile offenders?

§ The Lord Advocate
The hon. Gentleman raised an important matter, which merits a question directly to the point. I have had representations made to me on this subject. I was a guest at a meeting of solicitors in the west of Scotland on Friday when a number of criticisms of the children's panel system were made to me. I have had other representations made to me. I shall pass them all to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, within whose province this matter lies.